Definition of "disposition"

disposition

/ˌdɪs.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural dispositions
1. The way in which something or someone is disposed or disposed of (in any sense of those terms); thus:
  1. Control over something, or the results produced by the exercise of such control; thus:
    The arrangement or placement of certain things.
    Quotations
    The departure was not unduly prolonged. […] Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.
    1922, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
    Control over something, especially with regard to disposing or dispensing with an action item (disposal of a concern, allocation of disbursed funds) or control over the arrangement or placement of certain things.
    Quotations
    Seduced at the age of 10 by a famous sodomist named Duplessis, he had since been at the disposition of a number of homosexual persons, including officers, priests, and marquises.
    1927, Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 (of 6)‎
    (law) Transfer or relinquishment to the care or possession of another.
    (law) Final decision or settlement.
    (medicine) The destination of a patient after medical treatment, especially after emergency triage, first line treatment, or surgery; the choice made for the next venue of care.
    (music) The set of choirs of strings on a harpsichord.
  2. Tendency or inclination under given circumstances.
  3. Temperamental makeup or habitual mood.
    Quotations
    He was, indeed, a lad of a remarkable disposition; sober, discreet, and pious beyond his age […]
    1749, Henry Fielding, chapter II, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], book III
    Sometimes I'm happy / Sometimes I'm blue / My disposition / Depends on you
    1925, “Sometimes I'm Happy”, Irving Caesar (lyrics), Vincent Youmans (music)
2. (law) Provision; clause.
  Quotations
  The C.C. is the supreme interpreter of the Constitution (Section 1 of the O.L.C.C.) and, as we have already said, it was granted the monopoly of declaring unconstitutional the legal dispositions.
  2003, Medrano, Amelia Pascual, Active Legitimization in Constitutional Proceedings: The Spanish Case‎, page 167
  The dispositions of this Act shall not be applied in case of […]
  2003, Act XXI of 2003 on the Establishment of the European Works Council and on the Establishment of the Procedure of Informing and Consulting Employees‎, page 23
  an obligation that can arise as a consequence of an expected action or inaction of the foreign person that goes against the dispositions of this law
  1999, Albanian Law on Foreigners‎, page 1
verb
third-person singular simple present dispositions, present participle dispositioning, simple past and past participle dispositioned
1. To remove or place in a different position.