/,dɪspen'seɪʃn; ,dɪspən`seʃən/
n
1 [U] (fml 文) action of dispensing or distributing 分配; 分发.
2 [U, C] (fml 文) apparent arrangement of events by Providence 神的安排; 天命; 天道.
3 [C, U] (religion 宗) (in the Roman Catholic Church) permission to break the normal rules of the church （天主教）特准（容许违反教会的常规）, 豁免
*She needs a special dispensation to marry her cousin. 她需要得到特准才能嫁给她的表亲.
4 [C] (religion 宗) religious system prevalent at a certain period 某一时代的宗教制度
*the Christian, Mosaic dispensation 基督教的教规、摩西的律法.

n
[U and C]
special permission from someone in authority, especially a religious leader, to do something that is not usually allowed
　Caroline's marriage was annulled by special dispensation from the church.
[U]formal
the act of providing people with something as part of an official process
dispensation of
　the dispensation of justice
[C]formal
a religious or political system that has control over people's lives at a particular time