Dis*trib"ute, v. i. To make
distribution.
Distributing to the necessity of
saints.
Rom. xii. 13.Dis*trib"ute (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Distributed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distributing.] [L. distributus, p. p. of
distribuere to divide, distribute; dis- +
tribuere to assign, give, allot. See Tribute.]
1. To divide among several or many; to deal out;
to apportion; to allot.
She did distribute her goods to all them that
were nearest of kindred.
Judith xvi. 24.
2. To dispense; to administer; as, to
distribute justice. Shak.
3. To divide or separate, as into classes,
orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens,
letters, etc.
4. (Printing) (a) To
separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes
in the cases. (b) To spread (ink) evenly,
as upon a roller or a table.
5. (Logic) To employ (a term) in its
whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.
A term is said to be distributed when it is
taken universal, so as to stand for everything it is capable of being
applied to.
Whately.
Syn. -- To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share;
assign; divide.