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Literary notes about Disburse (AI summary)

The word "disburse" has been employed in literature with a rich history of monetary connotations and stylistic variations. Early texts, such as those found in the Declaration of Independence, often use a variant spelling “deburs” to signify the act of paying out money, highlighting its transactional function in legal and governmental contexts [1], [2], [3]. In later works, however, authors weave the term into more colorful narratives: William H. Ukers infuses it with a casual, almost whimsical quality when referring to a sum of money in everyday discourse [4], while Charles Mackay uses it to underscore omens and superstitions surrounding financial exchanges [5]. In proverbial expressions and literary dialogues, the word is similarly applied to humorously comment on the expectations of spending or transferring money, as seen in both the adage about inheriting a farthing [6] and Edgar Allan Poe's clever nod to French monetary slang [7].
  1. Deburs , v. disburse, pay, S3; see Disburse .
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  2. Disburse , v. to pay out of a purse, Sh. ; deburs , S3.—OF. desbourser .
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  3. Deburs , v. disburse, pay, S3; see Disburse .
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  4. Troth says the Us'rer I ne'r use To tip my tongue with such discourse, 'Twere news to know how to disburse A summ of mony (makes me sad)
    — from All About Coffee by William H. Ukers
  5. Itching of the right hand prognosticates that you will soon have a sum of money; and, of the left, that you will be called upon to disburse it.
    — from Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay
  6. He who inherits a farthing, is expected to disburse a dollar.
    — from A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs
  7. In the second place, Mr. Bob, the Magazine rule is never to disburse what we term in France the argent comptant —I have no doubt you understand.
    — from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition by Edgar Allan Poe

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