dis|miss

dis|miss «dihs MIHS», transitive verb.

1. to send away; allow to go: »

At noon the teacher dismissed the class for lunch.

2. to remove from office or service; not allow to keep a job: »

We dismissed the painter because his work was so poor.

3. to put out of mind; stop thinking about: »

Dismiss your troubles and be happy with what you have.

4. to refuse to consider (a complaint, plea, etc.) in a court: »

The judge dismissed the case because of lack of evidence.

5. to deal with briefly or quickly: »

The teacher dismissed all irrelevant questions in order to finish the lesson in one period.

╂[< Old French desmis, past participle of desmettre send away, learned borrowing from Vulgar Latin dismittere, for Latin dīmittere < dī- away + mittere send]

Synonym Study 1, 2 Dismiss, discharge, release mean to let someone go from his job, duty, etc. Dismiss applies whether he is forced to go or permitted to do so: »

The students are not dismissed before 3:15. The principal dismissed the truant boy from school.

Discharge is often used when a person is forced to go but is also used especially of hospital patients when released: »

The manager discharged the bookkeeper. After five days in the hospital, the patient was discharged.

Release applies when he is freed of his obligation to stay: »

The soldier was released from duty for two days.