Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To deliver; rid; free; disentangle; discharge: usually reflexive.
  • To send to a destination; cause to start for or go to an appointed place; put under way: usually implying urgent importance or haste as to purpose, or promptness and regularity as to time: as, to despatch a messenger or a letter asking for assistance; to despatch an envoy to a foreign court; to despatch a ship.
  • To transact or dispose of speedily or with promptness; attend to; bring to an end; accomplish: as, to despatch business.
  • To finish or make an end of by promptly putting to death; kill.
  • Synonyms To hasten off.
  • To make short work of, dispose of (quickly).
  • Slay, Murder, etc. See kill.
  • To go expeditiously; be quick.
  • To conclude or dispose of an affair or matter; make a finish.
  • noun A sending off or away; a prompt or regular starting or transmission, as of some one on an errand or a commission, or of a ship, freight, etc., on its prescribed course or toward its destination: as, the despatch of the mails; the despatch of troops to the front.
  • noun A sending away or getting rid of something; a putting out of the way, or a doing away with; riddance; dismissal.
  • noun Prompt or expeditious performance; complete or regular execution or transaction; the act of bringing to a conclusion.
  • noun Speed; haste; expedition; due diligence: as, repairing done with neatness and despatch; go, but make despatch.
  • noun Conduct; management.
  • noun A written message sent or to be sent with expedition: as, a telegraphic despatch.
  • noun An official letter relating to public affairs, as from a minister to an ambassador or a commander, or from the latter to the former, usually conveyed by a special messenger or bearer of despatches.
  • noun A conveyance or an organization for the expeditious transmission of merchandise, money, etc.: as, the Merchants' Despatch; it was sent by despatch.
  • noun A decisive answer.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • Same as dispatch.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective holding despatches
  • noun Alternative form of dispatch. (see also Wikipedia's Mentioned in Despatches)
  • verb Alternative form of dispatch.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the property of being prompt and efficient
  • noun an official report (usually sent in haste)
  • noun the act of sending off something
  • noun killing a person or animal
  • verb send away towards a designated goal

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Government had empowered him to do; and, though the "secret and most confidential" despatch of March 22nd cautioned him against narrowing too much the ground of a rupture, if a rupture should still occur, yet three days later, and _after the receipt of this despatch_, he signed the terms of peace with Joseph Bonaparte, and two days later with the other signatory Powers. [

    The Life of Napoleon I (Volume 1 of 2) John Holland Rose 1898

  • Head notes that the first mention in the written record of the use of potatoes in Newfoundland appears in a 1754 despatch from the governor to the Colonial Office. back

    Gutenber-e Help Page 2005

  • A despatch from the stadium stating that the Exhibition was open was sent to every part of the British Empire.

    The British Empire Exhibition, A Study in Geography, Resources, and Citizenship of the British Empire 1924

  • And he has done it right along, for example, on the Ypres-Peronne road last year that was absolutely and directly shot up where the Australians were! today's despatch is another piece of evidence added to the thousands we already have showing how unfitted the Hun is to dominate the world, and how we must keep on until he is absolutely smashed.

    The British Front in the Great Offensive 1918

  • The latter presented him with another despatch from the prince of Wales.

    The Scottish Chiefs 1875

  • The whole conduct of Tatnai, as well as the general tone of his despatch, is marked by a sound discretion and prudent moderation, free from any party bias, and evincing a desire only to do his duty.

    Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

  • The following despatch is from General Sheridan himself, dated the 20th ult., the day after the battle: --

    Foreign and Colonial Intelligence 1864

  • The next despatch is from Earl Russell to Lord Lyons, stating the outrage on the British flag, and hoping that the act was committed without instructions from the Federal Government, as that Government must be aware that Great Britain cannot allow such an affront to pass without reparation.

    Foreign and Colonial News 1862

  • The Earl's despatch is calm and terse, but it condenses the situation with too much felicity to make it exactly pleasant reading in the North.

    London: Saturday, August 16, 1862 1862

  • It is asserted that his departure took place in consequence of an urgent despatch from the Washington Cabinet.

    Foreign and Colonial News. 1861

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