Middle English Dictionary Entry
dispensaciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dispensaciǒun n. Also des-. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Power to dispose of wealth; (b) eccl. stewardship; (c) physiol. function.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)48/21 : Gyue us sum of þat good þat þou hast in dispensacion.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)571 : In no money that is geveyne too them that maye haue noo lorde shipe, actione, or administracion, or dispensatioun ther in.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.9.17 : If I willinge do this thing, I haue mede; sothly, if aȝens my wil, dispensacioun [L dispensatio] is bitake to me.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.281 : Peter his successoures..haveþ lawefulliche þe dispensacioun of office of holy chirche.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.469 : Þe stature of þe body of mankynde is made of þe elementes..everych schulde..ȝeve us special helpe and subsidie by his owne dispensacioun.
2.
Theol. Divine ordering or arrangement of events; dispensation, providence; ~ of God; the last dai of ~, the day of the Last Judgment.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.1.10 : The sacrament of his will..that he purposide in him in the dispensacioun [L dispensatione] of plente of tymes for to instore alle thingis in Crist.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Col.1.25 : I, Paul, am maad mynistre..vp the dispensacioun of God.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)73b/b : For diuers worthinesses ye despensacioun of goddes word settiþ som men to fore oþir.
- a1425 Adam & E.(3) (Wht)96/26 : Lete þis soule be..yn turmentis in-to þe laste day of dispensacyoun.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.270 : The wise dispensacion of God sparith hym, the whiche man adversite myghte enpeyren.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.173v : In elder age the duc gat dispensacion of his mariage, And in amendement of hur syn the duc made an abbey of religion of men, And the duchesse another of woman [?read: women].
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)343/30 : Of mye prive dispensacione I wiþdrawe þine inwarde confort.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)352/41 : Þorow þe pitevous despensacyone of god þey hadde be preserued.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)2/9 : Be þe dispensacion of almiȝti God, hym happend to mete with ane abbott.
3.
(a) Eccl. The granting, usually by ecclesiastical authority, of special license to dispense with what is enjoined by church law or obligation; exemption from church law, impediment of kinship, etc.; (papal) dispensation; maken ~; also, a license so granted; (b) withoute ~, without exception.
Associated quotations
a
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)144 : Riche mennis sonis that geten in here tendre age beneficis bi couetise and gifte of fadris..owen to resigne tho vttirli, and holde not tho, no but bi merciful dispensacioun aftir wilful resigninge.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.746 : He hath leue his firste wyf to lete, As by the popes dispensacioun.
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)162 : Þo fourt maner of lecchorye is bytwene kyn, or ellis bytwene affinite..And dispensacioun wiþ þis lawe wynnes myche money.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)76/5 : Þat lawe þat þe pope dispenseþ wiþ letteþ hym nouȝt, & ȝitt nouȝt wiþstondinge þat dispensacioun, he synneþ dedliche.
- ?c1430(?1382) Wycl.Pet.Parl.(Corp-C 296)511 : Boþe monks and chanouns forsaken þe reules of Benet and Austyn, and taken wiþouten eny dispensacioun þe reule of freres.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)56/1 : He was fallyn in-to irregularite & mygth not executyn hys orderys wyth-owtyn dispensacyon of þe Cowrt of Rome.
- (1447) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113180 : Thoo that purchase licence of nonn Residence of the pope..or ony other lyke dispensation of the pope, pretending it an exemption fro the ordinarye.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.246 : We wold desire thanne of þat blyssed kyng [God] he wolde with us make dispensacyon.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1202 : Somme..purchase Swiche dispensacyon þat..thei shal neuere rote.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxxix : Þei sellen it for mony al þat þei maye; as pardons, indulgencis, & oþre dispensaciouns.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.B.2614 : Dampnable yt [fornicacion] ys withouȝt dyspensacion And speciall grace off þe indyvydyd trinyte.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306:Everett)23 : Syr John off Gawnte..spoused Dame Blanche..by dispensacion of the Pope.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)46/10 : Of the dispensacion of Fastingis with the brethren and susters of this reule.
b
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)75 : Alle the bokes he [Dioclesian] mite gete that spoke of Crist, he brent hem withoute dispensacion.