WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dispense with v 1: give up what is not strictly needed; "he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey" [syn: spare, give up, part with, dispense with] 2: do without or cease to hold or adhere to; "We are dispensing with formalities"; "relinquish the old ideas" [syn: waive, relinquish, forgo, forego, foreswear, dispense with] 3: forgo or do or go without