dispense : Idioms & Phrases


dispense with

  • verb give up what is not strictly needed
    give up; spare; part with.
    • he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey
  • verb do without or cease to hold or adhere to
    relinquish; foreswear; forego; waive; forgo.
    • We are dispensing with formalities
    • relinquish the old ideas
  • verb forgo or do or go without
WordNet

To dispense with

  • . (a) To permit the neglect or omission of, as a form, a ceremony, an oath; to suspend the operation of, as a law; to give up, release, or do without, as services, attention, etc.; to forego; to part with . (b) To allow by dispensation; to excuse; to exempt; to grant dispensation to or for. Obs. "Conniving and dispensing with open and common adultery." Milton. (c) To break or go back from, as one's word. Obs.
Webster 1913