verb

discharge

to release, to dismiss, to emit, to perform (a duty)

The hospital discharged the patient.

The hospital discharged the patient.

The factory discharges waste into the river.

The factory discharges waste into the river.

He was discharged from the army.

He was discharged from the army.

The soldier discharged his duties faithfully.

The soldier discharged his duties faithfully.

to discharge ((sb.)) from ((a place)) to officially allow sb. to leave a place The hospital discharged the patient.

to discharge ((sth.)) into ((a place)) to send out a substance The factory discharges waste into the river.

to discharge ((one's duties)) to perform one's duties The soldier discharged his duties faithfully.

Synonyms: release, emit, dismiss, fire; Antonyms: admit, hire, load

From Old French 'deschargier' (to unload), from 'des-' (off, away) and 'chargier' (to load, charge). Literally 'to un-load'.

Think of 'dis-' as 'away' and 'charge' as a burden or load. To 'discharge' is to send the load away (release a patient, fire an employee, emit waste).

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