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dispensatory

American  
[dih-spen-suh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / dɪˈspɛn səˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

PLURAL

dispensatories
  1. a book in which the composition, preparation, and uses of medicinal substances are described; a nonofficial pharmacopoeia.

  2. a dispensary.


dispensatory British  
/ dɪˈspɛnsətərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

  1. a book listing the composition, preparation, and application of various drugs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. of or involving dispensation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dispensatory

1560–70; < Medieval Latin dispēnsātōrium, Late Latin dispēnsātōrius of management, equivalent to Latin dispēnsā ( re ) ( dispense ) + -tōrium -tory 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Adventurous 18th-century Brits sipped a sophisticated mint julep found in the 1753 edition of William Lewis' New English Dispensatory.

From Salon

The recipe is given as late as 1739, in Dr. Quincey’s “English Dispensatory,” published by Thomas Longman, at the Ship in Paternoster Row.

From Project Gutenberg

There are about 11,000 remedies mentioned in the 15th edition of the "United States Dispensatory," by reference to which it will be seen that each affliction to which flesh is heir must be more than well drugged.

From Project Gutenberg

Catholicon, is little used, or made here, the lenitive Electuary of our Dispensatory may be substituted for it, or that of the Edinburgh Dispensatory, which was calculated particularly for Glysters.

From Project Gutenberg

The lying old Dispensatory of Culpepper gave a rule to mix the ashes of Southernwood with "Old Sallet Oyl" which "helpeth those that are hair-fallen and bald."

From Project Gutenberg