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 for dispatch
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for dispatch
instruction, bulletin, missive, ship, dismiss, destroy, eliminate, hustle, celerity, rustle, expedition, alacrity, quickness, haste, speediness, hurry, swiftness, rapidity, promptness, promptitudeExamples from the Web for dispatch
Contemporary Examples of dispatch
Det. Johnson left in an elevator and I found myself alone in the building, save two women in the dispatch center.
“We greatly enjoyed reading your ‘Second Impressions’ dispatch,” replied a senior diplomat.
France has offered to dispatch four jet fighters to Ukraine and help it with cyber security.
Obama’s Nuclear Summit Aimed to Stop Terrorists. Now Putin’s the Issue.Christopher Dickey, Jamie Dettmer, Nadette De Visser
March 25, 2014
In the event that the redoubled UN forces are not enough, the African Union should dispatch troops to supplement the effort.
Rather than dispatch a team of slick lawyers with leather briefcases, they seemingly adopted a cartoon character, Uncle Rhabdo.
Historical Examples of dispatch
I got a dispatch from, him quoting the Virago of Paris—meaning the Figaro, of course.
The dispatch was long, and he read it with a deepening frown.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
If you don't get this dispatch through, you don't get anything.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
His dispatch undoubtedly was of great importance, and yet he was not able to deliver it.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
He drew the dispatch from the inside pocket of his waistcoat.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
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 for dispatch
Word Origin and History for dispatch
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.