despensers

Despenser (plural despensers) is an English term with several distinct meanings. In archaic or historical usage, a despenser is a person who dispenses or distributes money, provisions, or other goods. The word is now largely obsolete in modern English, where dispenser is used for devices that release a substance and for a person who dispenses.

Despenser is also a surname. The Despenser family were prominent English nobles in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The two best-known members are Hugh le Despenser the Elder and Hugh Despenser the Younger, who were favorites of King Edward II. Their influence and wealth helped to provoke opposition and contributed to the political crisis that culminated in Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer's invasion. After their fall from power in 1326, their lands were forfeited and their deaths marked a turning point in Edward II's reign. The conflict surrounding them is sometimes referred to as the Despenser War (1321–1322).

In modern usage, outside historical or biographical contexts, the standard term is dispenser. Spelling variations appear in medieval texts, and the surname Despenser survives primarily in historical references. Notable individuals include Hugh le Despenser the Elder and Hugh Despenser the Younger.