4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Despatch  \De*spatch"\,  n.  &  v. 
  Same  as  {Dispatch}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  2.  Any  sending  away  dismissal;  riddance. 
 
  To  the  utter  dispatch  of  all  their  most  beloved 
  comforts.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  The  finishing  up  of  a  business;  speedy  performance,  as  of 
  business;  prompt  execution;  diligence;  haste. 
 
  Serious  business,  craving  quick  dispatch.  --Shak. 
 
  To  carry  his  scythe  .  .  .  with  a  sufficient  dispatch 
  through  a  sufficient  space.  --Paley. 
 
  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. 
 
  5.  A  message  transmitted  by  telegraph.  [Modern] 
 
  {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}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  Ere  we  put  ourselves  in  arms,  dispatch  we  The 
  business  we  have  talked  of  --Shak. 
 
  [The]  harvest  men  .  .  .  almost  in  one  fair  day 
  dispatcheth  all  the  harvest  work  --Robynson 
  (More's 
  Utopia). 
 
  2.  To  rid;  to  free  [Obs.] 
 
  I  had  clean  dispatched  myself  of  this  great  charge. 
  --Udall. 
 
  3.  To  get  rid  of  by  sending  off  to  send  away  hastily. 
 
  Unless  dispatched  to  the  mansion  house  in  the 
  country  .  .  .  they  perish  among  the  lumber  of 
  garrets.  --Walpole. 
 
  4.  To  send  off  or  away  --  particularly  applied  to  sending 
  off  messengers,  messages,  letters,  etc.,  on  special 
  business,  and  implying  haste. 
 
  Even  with  the  speediest  expedition  I  will  dispatch 
  him  to  the  emperor's  cou??.  --Shak. 
 
  5.  To  send  out  of  the  world;  to  put  to  death. 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  despatch 
  n  1:  an  official  report  (usually  sent  in  haste)  [syn:  {dispatch}, 
  {communique}] 
  2:  the  murder  or  execution  of  someone  [syn:  {dispatch}] 
  3:  the  act  of  sending  off  something  [syn:  {dispatch},  {shipment}] 
  v  :  send  off  promptly  [syn:  {dispatch},  {send  off}] 

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