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.
The galleys also did oftentimes, out of their prows, discharge their great pieces against the city.
Knolles.
Feeling in other cases discharges itself in indirect muscular actions.
H. Spencer. 3. To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility,
accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear.
Discharged of business, void of strife.
Dryden.
In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty.
L'Estrange. 4. To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service; to dismiss.
Discharge the common sort
With pay and thanks.
Shak.
Grindal . . . was discharged the government of his see.
Milton. 5. To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to discharge a prisoner.
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.
7. To let fly, as a missile; to shoot.
They do discharge their shot of courtesy.
Shak. 8. To set aside; to annul; to dismiss.
We say such an order was "discharged on appeal."
Mozley & W.
The order for Daly's attendance was discharged.
Macaulay. 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.
Had I a hundred tongues, a wit so large
As could their hundred offices discharge.
Dryden. 10. To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to. [Obs.]
If he had
The present money to discharge the Jew.
Shak. 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.
12. To prohibit; to forbid. [Scot. Obs.] Sir W. Scott.
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.
