dispensation
UK[ˌdɪspənˈseɪʃən]US[ˌdɪspənˈseɪʃən]
n
The act of distributing or providing something, especially from a source of authority.
n
Special permission to not have to obey a particular rule or do a particular duty.
n
A particular religious or philosophical system governing people's lives.
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
pens
ation
dis
pens
ation
Etymology
The word 'dispensation' originates from the Latin verb 'dispensare', meaning 'to weigh out, distribute, or manage'. This verb itself is a frequentative form of 'dispendere' (to weigh out), composed of 'dis-' (apart) and 'pendere' (to weigh). The core concept of carefully measuring out portions evolved into the administrative and religious sense of distributing or administering something, such as justice or divine favor. Over time, this led to the modern abstract meanings involving the distribution of rules, special permissions, or entire systems of governance.
Analysis
Structure: dis + pens + ation
- dis (Latin origin): A prefix meaning 'apart', 'away', or 'thoroughly'.
- pens (Latin origin): A root from 'pendere' (to weigh, to pay).
- ation (Latin origin via French): A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
The charity is responsible for the dispensation of food and supplies to the affected region.
She was granted a special dispensation to complete the course over a longer period.
Under the old dispensation, such behavior would have been severely punished.