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more about despatch
despatch |
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}]
more about despatch