Definition: dismiss

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

dismiss
     v 1: bar from attention or consideration; "She dismissed his
          advances" [syn: disregard, brush aside, brush off,
           discount, push aside, ignore]
     2: cease to consider; put out of judicial consideration: "This
        case is dismissed!" [syn: throw out]
     3: stop associating with; "They dropped her after she had a
        child out of wedlock" [syn: send packing, send away, drop]
     4: terminate the employment of; "The boss fired his secretary
        today" [syn: fire, give notice, can, give the axe,
         send away, sack, force out, terminate] [ant: hire]
     5: end one's encounter with somebody by causing or permitting
        the person to leave [syn: usher out]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dismiss \Dis*miss"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismissed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Dismissing.] [L. dis- + missus, p. p. of mittere to
   send: cf. dimittere, OF. desmetre, F. d['e]mettre. See
   Demise, and cf. Dimit.]
   1. To send away; to give leave of departure; to cause or
      permit to go; to put away.

            He dismissed the assembly.            --Acts xix.
                                                  41.

            Dismiss their cares when they dismiss their flock.
                                                  --Cowper.

            Though he soon dismissed himself from state affairs.
                                                  --Dryden.

   2. To discard; to remove or discharge from office, service,
      or employment; as, the king dismisses his ministers; the
      matter dismisses his servant.

   3. To lay aside or reject as unworthy of attentions or
      regard, as a petition or motion in court.
Dismiss \Dis*miss"\, n.
   Dismission. [Obs.] --Sir T. Herbert.