Despatch

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Despatch \De*spatch"\, n. & v.
     Same as {Dispatch}.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Dispatch \Dis*patch"\ (?; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {Dispatched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dispatching}.] [OF.
     despeechier, F. d['e]p[^e]cher; prob. from pref. des- (L.
     dis-) + (assumed) LL. pedicare to place obstacles in the way,
     fr. L. pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See {Foot}, and
     cf. {Impeach}, {Despatch}.] [Written also {despatch}.]
     1. To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly;
        to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
              The business we have talked of.       --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              [The] harvest men . . . almost in one fair day
              dispatcheth all the harvest work.     --Robynson
                                                    (More's
                                                    Utopia).
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To rid; to free. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge.
                                                    --Udall.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To get rid of by sending off; to send away hastily.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Unless dispatched to the mansion house in the
              country . . . they perish among the lumber of
              garrets.                              --Walpole.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To send off or away; -- particularly applied to sending
        off messengers, messages, letters, etc., on special
        business, and implying haste.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Even with the speediest expedition
              I will dispatch him to the emperor's cou??. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. To send out of the world; to put to death.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The company shall stone them with stones, and
              dispatch them with their swords.      --Ezek. xxiii.
                                                    47.
  
     Syn: To expedite; hasten; speed; accelerate; perform;
          conclude; finish; slay; kill.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dispatch \Dis*patch"\, n. [Cf. OF. despeche, F. d['e]p[^e]che.
     See {Dispatch}, v. t.] [Written also {despatch}.]
     1. The act of sending a message or messenger in haste or on
        important business.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any sending away; dismissal; riddance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To the utter dispatch of all their most beloved
              comforts.                             --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of
        business; prompt execution; diligence; haste.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Serious business, craving quick dispatch. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch
              through a sufficient space.           --Paley.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. A message dispatched or sent with speed; especially, an
        important official letter sent from one public officer to
        another; -- often used in the plural; as, a messenger has
        arrived with dispatches for the American minister; naval
        or military dispatches.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. A message transmitted by telegraph. [Modern]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Dispatch boat}, a swift vessel for conveying dispatches; an
        advice boat.
  
     {Dispatch box}, a box for carrying dispatches; a box for
        papers and other conveniences when traveling.
  
     Syn: Haste; hurry; promptness; celerity; speed. See {Haste}.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  despatch
       n 1: an official report (usually sent in haste) [syn: {dispatch},
             {communique}]
       2: the property of being prompt and efficient; "it was done
          with dispatch" [syn: {dispatch}, {expedition}, {expeditiousness}]
       3: killing a person or animal [syn: {dispatch}]
       4: the act of sending off something [syn: {dispatch}, {shipment}]
       v : send away towards a designated goal [syn: {dispatch}, {send
           off}]