Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-TRIB'UTE, v.t. [L. distribuo; dis and tribuo, to give or divide.]

1. To divide among two or more; to deal; to give or bestow in parts or portions. Moses distributed lands to the tribes of Israel. Christ distributed the loaves to his disciples.
2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice.
3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds or species.
4. To give in charity. Distributing to the necessities of the saints. – Rom. xii.
5. In printing, to separate types, and place them in their proper cells in the cases.