discharge
/dɪsˈtʃɑɹdʒ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.93 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To accomplish or complete, as an obligation.
verb
To free of a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to forgive; to clear.
verb
To release (an accumulated charge).
Example Sentences
- "Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President. (1965, Amendment XXV)"
- "O most dear mistress, / The sun will set before I shall discharge / What I must strive to do."
- "But in deede, the ſecret cauſe that brought Ageſilaus to conſent vnto this practiſe, was the greatnes of his dette which he ought, of the which he hoped to be diſcharged by chaunging of the ſtate and common wealth."
- "For if One Man's Faults could Discharge Another Man of his Duty,there would be no longer any Place left for the Common Offices of Society."
- "How happy is his low degree, / How rich in humble poverty, is he, / Who leads a quiet country life; / Diſcharg'd of buſineſs, void of ſtrife, / And from the griping ſcrivener free?"
- "If he had / The present money to discharge the Jew."
Etymology
From Middle English dischargen, from Old French deschargier (“to unload”), from Late Latin discarricāre (“unload”). By surface analysis, dis- + charge.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: dischargen, deschargier, discarrico
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪsˈtʃɑɹdʒ/
- British English: /dɪsˈtʃɑːdʒ/