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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dispens, Dispence, v. Also: despens, dispense. [ME. dispense (Wyclif), -pence, despense (Chaucer), OF. dis-, despenser, L. dispensāre.]

1. intr. To arrange or deal with a person by way of concession, exemption, or remission. c1420 Wynt. v. 780.
Thai papys twa He despensyt wytht … to do the serwys all That to the Pape off rycht suld fall 1456 Hay I. 254/15.
Sen he is soverane lord bathe in spiritualitee and temporalitee, and may dispens with the party Ib. II. 94/24.
It efferis to the king … to dispense with thame, and defalk and rebate sumpart of thair devoiris 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 247/2.
We … dispens with him anent the said biggyn quhil Martynmas in winter 1519 Ib. 475/2.
Ane Lettre maid … to Henry Callendare … dispensand with him apone his les age 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 103.
With sum dispensand … That thay may brek ȝour prencelie actis 1567 G. Ball. 176.
With dispensationis and obligationis … He wald dispence … With thame he neuer saw 1622-6 Bisset I. 39/33.
We haif fred and dispensed, and … freithis and dispensis with thame, … that they sall nocht be haldin [etc.] 1640-1 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 137.
The said committie … dispensis with any persone whatsumever to lend him money

2. To deal with a thing by granting exemption or remission. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 54.
He had dispensit with matynnis channoun 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 10.
The provest … and counsall has dispensit with his lyf, and has bannist him this toune 1556 Ib. 236.
To dispens with the act of parliament quhilk wes maid in hurt of their priuilege 1571 Acts III. 63/2.
Thair … airis sall haif thair ward … and mariage fre of our Souerane lord dispensand with thair minoritie and les age 1615 Highland P. III. 221.
Give his Majeste dispence with my lyfe and offences, [I] sall mak gud suirte to truble no man

3. tr. To admit to office as a concession. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 198.
Thocht he was young, yit he was dispensit be the nobillis

b. To set aside, dispense with. 1567 Acts II. 548/2.
Our said Souerane … hes thocht neidfull and convenient to dispens, cas, abrogat and annull … all and quhatsumeuir lawis, actis [etc.]

4. intr. To obtain, or grant, a dispensation. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 976.
And, gif ȝe lufe me as ȝe say, Haist to dispens the best ȝe may 1562-3 Winȝet I. 128/32.
Quhat pouer haif ȝe to dispence mair in the ane nor in the wthir?