dispatch

or des·patch

[dih-spach]

See more synonyms for dispatch on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

Archaic. to hasten; be quick.

noun

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.
1. a method of effecting a speedy delivery of goods, money, etc.
2. 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.

Idioms

mentioned in dispatches, British. honored by being named in official military reports for special bravery or acts of service.

Origin of dispatch

1510–20; < Italian dispacciare to hasten, speed, or < Spanish despachar both ultimately < Old French despeechier to unshackle, equivalent to des- dis-¹ + -peechier < Late Latin -pedicāre to shackle; see impeach

Related formsout·dis·patch, verb (used with object)pre·dis·patch, noun, verb (used with object)re·dis·patch, verb (used with object)self-dis·patch, nounun·dis·patched, adjectiveun·dis·patch·ing, adjective

Synonyms for dispatch

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9. rapidity, haste, alacrity, celerity.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for dispatch

instruction, bulletin, missive, ship, dismiss, destroy, eliminate, hustle, celerity, rustle, expedition, alacrity, quickness, haste, speediness, hurry, swiftness, rapidity, promptness, promptitude

Examples 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.
The Disappearing Cops of East St. Louis
Justin Glawe
November 26, 2014
“We greatly enjoyed reading your ‘Second Impressions’ dispatch,” replied a senior diplomat.
British Officials Portrayed Reagan as a “Bozo”
Nico Hines, Ben Jacobs
April 30, 2014
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.
Preventing South Sudan’s Civil War
John Prendergast, Akshaya Kumar
December 24, 2013
Rather than dispatch a team of slick lawyers with leather briefcases, they seemingly adopted a cartoon character, Uncle Rhabdo.
Cool It on the CrossFit: What’s Rhabdomyolysis?
Kent Sepkowitz
October 11, 2013

Historical Examples of dispatch

I got a dispatch from, him quoting the Virago of Paris—meaning the Figaro, of course.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 8, May 21, 1870
Various
The dispatch was long, and he read it with a deepening frown.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
If you don't get this dispatch through, you don't get anything.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
He drew the dispatch from the inside pocket of his waistcoat.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
His dispatch undoubtedly was of great importance, and yet he was not able to deliver it.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for dispatch

dispatch

despatch

verb (tr)

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

noun

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

Derived Formsdispatcher, noun

Word Origin for dispatch

C16: from Italian dispacciare, from Provençal despachar, from Old French despeechier to set free, from des- dis- 1 + -peechier, ultimately from Latin pedica a fetter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.