despatch
dispatch
or des·patch
- to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, telegram, body of troops, etc.
- to dismiss (a person), as after an audience.
- to put to death; kill: The spy was promptly dispatched.
- to transact or dispose of (a matter) promptly or speedily.
- Archaic. to hasten; be quick.
- the sending off of a messenger, letter, etc., to a destination.
- the act of putting to death; killing; execution.
- prompt or speedy transaction, as of business.
- expeditious performance; promptness or speed: Proceed with all possible dispatch.
- Commerce.
- a method of effecting a speedy delivery of goods, money, etc.
- a conveyance or organization for the expeditious transmission of goods, money, etc.
- a written message sent with speed.
- an official communication sent by special messenger.
- Journalism. a news story transmitted to a newspaper, wire service, or the like, by one of its reporters, or by a wire service to a newspaper or other news agency.
- mentioned in dispatches, British. honored by being named in official military reports for special bravery or acts of service.
Origin of dispatch
Synonyms
See more synonyms for dispatch on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for despatch
Historical Examples
Shall be happy to facilitate any despatch you may wish forwarded to your Government.
Explorations in AustraliaJohn Forrest
He then summoned Madame Dufour, and sent her with his despatch.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
The latter took the despatch, and opened it, directing Jenkins to sign the paper.
The ChanningsMrs. Henry Wood
This was the despatch which you saw Mr. Galloway receive in his office.
The ChanningsMrs. Henry Wood
Now, it is impossible that any despatch could tell him that.
The ChanningsMrs. Henry Wood
despatch
- (tr) a less common spelling of dispatch
dispatch
despatch
- to send off promptly, as to a destination or to perform a task
- to discharge or complete (a task, duty, etc) promptly
- informal to eat up quickly
- to murder or execute
- the act of sending off a letter, messenger, etc
- prompt action or speed (often in the phrase with dispatch)
- an official communication or report, sent in haste
- journalism a report sent to a newspaper, etc, by a correspondent
- murder or execution
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for despatch
18c. variant of dispatch (q.v.), apparently the result of an error in the printing of Johnson's dictionary.
dispatch
v.
1510s, "to send off in a hurry," from a word in Spanish (despachar "expedite, hasten") or Italian (dispacciare "to dispatch"). For first element, see dis-. The exact source of the second element has been proposed as Vulgar Latin *pactare "to fasten, fix" or *pactiare, or as Latin -pedicare "to entrap" (from Latin pedica "shackle;" see impeach); and the Spanish and Italian words seem to be related to (perhaps opposites of) Old Provençal empachar "impede." See OED for full discussion. Meaning "to get rid of by killing" is attested from 1520s. Related: Dispatched; dispatching. As a noun, from 1540s, originally "dismissal;" sense of "a message sent speedily" is first attested 1580s.