Dis-pōse′1, v. t.
(dis-pōz′), v. t. [imp. & p. p. DISPOSED; p. pr. & vb. n. DISPOSING.] [Fr. disposer, from Lat. disponere, dispositum, from prefix dis and ponere, to lay, put, set; Pr. dispausar and disponer, Catalan disposar, Sp. disponer, It. disponere, disporre. Cf. DEPOSE.]
Sense 1. To distribute and put in place; to arrange; to set in order; as, to dispose the ships in the form of a crescent.
The rest themselves in troops did else dispose. Spenser.
Sense 2. To regulate; to fix; to adjust; to order; to determine; to settle.
The knightly forms of combat to dispose. Dryden.
Sense 3. To deal out; to assign to a service or use; to bestow for an object or purpose; to apply; to employ; to dispose of.
Importuned him that what he designed to bestow on her funeral, he would rather dispose among the poor. Evelyn.
Sense 4. To give a tendency or inclination; to adapt; to cause to turn; especially, to incline the mind of; to give a bent or propension to; to incline; — usually followed by to.
Endure and conquer; Jove will soon dispose To future good our past and present woes. Dryden.
Suspicions dispose kings to tyranny, husbands to jealousy, and wise men to irresolution and melancholy. Bacon.
To dispose of. (a.) To determine the fate of; to exercise the power of control over; to fix the condition, application, employment, &c., of; to direct or assign for a use.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Prov. xvi. 33.
Freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons. Locke.
(b.) To exercise finally one's power of control over; to pass over into the control of some one else; to alienate; to bestow; to part with; to get rid of; as, to dispose of a house; to dispose of one's time. “More water . . . than can be disposed of.” Burnet.
I have disposed of her to a man of business. Tatler.
A rural judge disposed of beauty's prize. Waller.
Synonyms— To set; arrange; order; distribute; adjust; regulate; adapt; fit; incline; bestow; give.