dispensation
/ˌdɪspenˈseɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪspenˈseɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌdi-spən-ˈsā-shən -ˌspen-/ (ame, mw)
dispensation — noun
- dispensationsingular
- dispensationsplural
1. official permission, often granted by a church or other authority, that lets som
official permission, often granted by a church or other authority, that lets someone do something normally forbidden by a rule or be released from following it.
Jabari needed a dispensation from the bishop to marry his cousin.
dispensation from + person/authority
The pope granted a special dispensation allowing the soldiers to eat meat during Lent.
collocation: grant a (special) dispensation
Roya applied for dispensation to wear her hijab during the school swimming lessons.
Without a dispensation from the chess federation, players under sixteen cannot enter the open tournament.
The judge refused to give any dispensation, so the lawyer had to file the papers before noon.
- exemption
more neutral and everyday; covers tax and bureaucracy without the religious flavour
- waiver
legal register; usually a written document releasing someone from a rule or claim
- indulgence
specifically Catholic and historical; remission of punishment for sin, not just a rule
- obligation
the duty one is normally bound to follow, the opposite of being released from it
- requirement
the rule that everyone must obey, with no special release granted
文法句型
dispensation from + noun
dispensation to + infinitive
用法筆記
Often followed by 'from' (the rule or authority) or 'to' + infinitive (the action exempted). The word is most at home in religious, legal, or formal institutional settings; everyday speech prefers 'exemption' or 'special permission'.
常見錯誤
2. the political or religious order that runs a country or community during a parti
the political or religious order that runs a country or community during a particular period, or more broadly the way the world appears to be arranged at a given time.
Under the new dispensation, foreign investors faced much tougher restrictions on owning farmland.
under the new / old dispensation
Many Hindus believe humanity is currently living through the dispensation of Kali Yuga, an age of moral decline.
religious sense: a named cosmic era
Felipe argued that the previous dispensation had been kinder to small farmers than the current government.
Civil servants who had thrived under the old dispensation suddenly found their offices closed.
文法句型
under the X dispensation
the new / old dispensation
用法筆記
Almost always appears with 'the', a possessive, or a defining adjective ('the new', 'the old', 'a different'). Distinguish from sense 1: here no person 'grants' anything — it names a whole order of things, like 'regime' or 'era'.
常見錯誤
3. the act of handing something out to people, especially in measured amounts by so
the act of handing something out to people, especially in measured amounts by someone in an official position.
Pharmacy students learn the careful dispensation of medicines before they are allowed to serve customers.
the dispensation of medicines (pharmacy context)
Dewi was placed in charge of the dispensation of relief supplies after the floods hit the village.
in charge of the dispensation of + supplies
The judge has full responsibility for the dispensation of justice in the district court.
Strict rules govern the dispensation of cash bonuses to staff during the holiday season.
- distribution
neutral and far more common; covers everything from mail to wealth
- administration
used of justice, medicine, oaths; emphasises careful management
- allocation
stresses the planned share each recipient gets
- withholding
the opposite act: keeping something back instead of giving it out
文法句型
the dispensation of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable and almost always followed by 'of + noun'. Common collocates include 'justice', 'medicines', 'aid', 'relief', 'cash'. The doer is typically an authority, not an individual sharing among friends.
常見錯誤
4. a share or amount of something that has been handed out, especially as part of a
a share or amount of something that has been handed out, especially as part of an official distribution.
Each refugee family received a small dispensation of rice and cooking oil from the agency.
a small dispensation of + food
Hari was grateful for the monthly dispensation of medicine that kept his blood pressure under control.
monthly dispensation of medicine (recurring share)
The widow's only income was a modest dispensation from the church's charity fund.
Soldiers complained that this week's dispensation of fresh water was smaller than usual.
文法句型
a dispensation of + noun
用法筆記
Less frequent than sense 3 (the act) and overlaps with 'portion', 'allotment', 'ration'. Distinguish from sense 3: there it is the ACT of giving; here it is the THING received.