dis·charge 1 /dis-'chärj, 'dis-ˌchärj/ vt
1: to release from an obligation: as
a: to relieve of a duty under an instrument (as a contract or a negotiable instrument); also: to render (an instrument) no longer enforceable
a formal instrument...may be discharged by either cancellation or surrender — J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo
b: to release (a debtor in bankruptcy) from liability for his or her debts
2: to release from confinement, custody, or care
discharge a prisoner
3 a: to dismiss from employment: terminate the employment of
b: to release from service or duty
discharge a jury
discharge a witness
4 a: to get rid of (as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action
b: to fulfill a requirement for
evidence which is required to discharge the burden of going forward — W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
5: to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill in order to bring it before the house for action
dis·charge·abil·i·ty /dis-ˌchär-jə-'bi-lə-tē/ n
dis·charge·able /dis-'chär-jə-bəl/ adj
dis·charge 2 /'dis-ˌchärj/ n
1 a: the act of relieving of something that burdens or oppresses: release
b: something that discharges or releases; esp: a certification of or a document proving release or payment
2: the state of being discharged or released
a party seeking a total discharge
3: release from confinement
ordering a conditional discharge of the alien on habeas corpus — Harvard Law Review
4: the act of removing an obligation or liability (as by payment of a debt or performance of a duty)
5 a: a dismissal from employment or office
constructive discharge: discharge of an employee effected by making the employee's working conditions so intolerable that he or she reasonably feels compelled to resign
retaliatory discharge: a wrongful discharge that is done in retaliation for an employee's conduct (as reporting an employer's criminal activity) and that clearly violates public policy
wrongful discharge: discharge of an employee for illegal reasons or for reasons that are contrary to public policy (as in retaliation for the employee's refusal to engage in unlawful activity)
b: a release from service or duty
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.