Discharge

Discharge Dis*charge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Discharged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Discharging}.] [OE. deschargen, dischargen, OF. deschargier, F. d['e]charger; pref. des- (L. dis) + chargier, F. charger. See {Charge}.] 1. To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel. [1913 Webster]

2. To free of the missile with which anything is charged or loaded; to let go the charge of; as, to discharge a bow, catapult, etc.; especially, said of firearms, -- to fire off; to shoot off; also, to relieve from a state of tension, as a Leyden jar. [1913 Webster]

The galleys also did oftentimes, out of their prows, discharge their great pieces against the city. --Knolles. [1913 Webster]

Feeling in other cases discharges itself in indirect muscular actions. --H. Spencer. [1913 Webster]

3. To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear. [1913 Webster]

Discharged of business, void of strife. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]

4. To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service; to dismiss. [1913 Webster]

Discharge the common sort With pay and thanks. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Grindal . . . was discharged the government of his see. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to discharge a prisoner. [1913 Webster]

6. To put forth, or remove, as a charge or burden; to take out, as that with which anything is loaded or filled; as, to discharge a cargo. [1913 Webster]

7. To let fly, as a missile; to shoot. [1913 Webster]

They do discharge their shot of courtesy. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

8. To set aside; to annul; to dismiss. [1913 Webster]

We say such an order was ``discharged on appeal.'' --Mozley & W. [1913 Webster]

The order for Daly's attendance was discharged. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

9. To throw off the obligation of, as a duty or debt; to relieve one's self of, by fulfilling conditions, performing duty, trust, and the like; hence, to perform or execute, as an office, or part. [1913 Webster]

Had I a hundred tongues, a wit so large As could their hundred offices discharge. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

10. To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

If he had The present money to discharge the Jew. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

11. To give forth; to emit or send out; as, a pipe discharges water; to let fly; to give expression to; to utter; as, to discharge a horrible oath. [1913 Webster]

12. To prohibit; to forbid. [Scot. Obs.] --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

13. (Textile Dyeing & Printing) To bleach out or to remove or efface, as by a chemical process; as, to discharge the color from a dyed fabric in order to form light figures on a dark ground. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Discharging arch} (Arch.), an arch over a door, window, or other opening, to distribute the pressure of the wall above. See Illust. of {Lintel}.

{Discharging piece}, {Discharging strut} (Arch.), a piece set to carry thrust or weight to a solid point of support.

{Discharging rod} (Elec.), a bent wire, with knobs at both ends, and insulated by a glass handle. It is employed for discharging a Leyden jar or an electrical battery. See {Discharger}.

Syn: See {Deliver}. [1913 Webster]