Category:Dispatch

Dis*patch" (224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispatched; p. pr. & vb. n. Dispatching.] Etym: [OF. despeechier, F. dépêcher; 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 couShak.

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.

dispatch Dis*patch", v. i.

Defn: To make haste; to conclude an affair; to finish a matter of business. They have dispatched with Pompey. Shak.

dispatch Dis*patch", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. despeche, F. dépêche. 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.