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.

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.

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dispatch ON THESAURUS.COM

9. rapidity, haste, alacrity, celerity.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dispatched

ship, dismiss, destroy, eliminate, issue, route, express, remit, consign, transmit, accelerate, address, forward, railroad, hasten, speed, quicken, devour, conclude, perform

Examples from the Web for dispatched

Contemporary Examples of dispatched

In 1970, Hunter S. Thompson was dispatched to report on a motorcycle race in Las Vegas.
Sneer and Clothing in Miami: Inside The $3 Billion Woodstock of Contemporary Art
Jay Michaelson
December 6, 2014
He also claimed that the CIA had dispatched a clone of himself to Foxcatcher Farm to kill Schultz.
Foxcatcher’s Real-Life Psycho Killer
Marlow Stern
November 18, 2014
Kremlin officials deny they dispatched any column across the border on Thursday, slamming the allegation as fantasy.
Ukraine Rebels Boast About Troops and Tanks Coming from Russia
Jamie Dettmer
August 16, 2014
It was very hard to see all my friends be dispatched to cover this breaking news story.
Soledad O'Brien's Next Chapter: 'The War Comes Home,' Her CNN Departure, and the State of News
Marlow Stern
August 13, 2014
Iran is already said to have dispatched small military units to Baghdad.
A Winning Strategy for Iraq and Syria
Leslie H. Gelb
June 21, 2014

Historical Examples of dispatched

The moment she had dispatched her letter, she set out to visit her poor friends.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Cheppi, however, was dispatched to the barn, and the two others ran after him.
Rico and Wiseli
Johanna Spyri
A British force was dispatched from Kurna to attack these positions.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)
Various
At last, on the night of Easter Monday, March 31st, they caught him and dispatched him.
The Historical Nights' Entertainment
Rafael Sabatini
A messenger has been dispatched to find him and urge him to return home at once.
St. Martin's Summer
Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for dispatched

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 dispatched

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.