The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Distributing \Dis*trib"u*ting\, a.
That distributes; dealing out.
[1913 Webster]
Distributing past office, an office where the mails for a
large district are collected to be assorted according to
their destination and forwarded.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Distribute \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.
[1913 Webster]
She did distribute her goods to all them that were
nearest of kindred. --Judith xvi.
24.
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2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice.
--Shak.
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3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or
species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters,
etc.
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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.
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5. (Logic) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as
universal in one premise.
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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.
[1913 Webster]