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dispatch

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dis⋅patch

  [di-spach]
Use dispatch in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, telegram, body of troops, etc.
2. to dismiss (a person), as after an audience.
3. to put to death; kill: The spy was promptly dispatched.
4. to transact or dispose of (a matter) promptly or speedily.
–verb (used without object)
5. Archaic. to hasten; be quick.
–noun
6. the sending off of a messenger, letter, etc., to a destination.
7. the act of putting to death; killing; execution.
8. prompt or speedy transaction, as of business.
9. expeditious performance; promptness or speed: Proceed with all possible dispatch.
10. Commerce.
a. a method of effecting a speedy delivery of goods, money, etc.
b. a conveyance or organization for the expeditious transmission of goods, money, etc.
11. a written message sent with speed.
12. an official communication sent by special messenger.
13. Journalism. a news story transmitted to a newspaper, wire service, or the like, by one of its reporters, or by a wire service to a newspaper or other news agency.
—Idiom
14. mentioned in dispatches, British. honored by being named in official military reports for special bravery or acts of service.
Also, despatch.

Origin:
1510–20; < It dispacciare to hasten, speed, or < Sp despachar both ult. < OF despeechier to unshackle, equiv. to des- dis- 1 + -peechier < LL -pedicāre to shackle; see impeach

Synonyms:
9. rapidity, haste, alacrity, celerity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dis·patch also des·patch   (dĭ-spāch')   
tr.v.   dis·patched also des·patched, dis·patch·ing also des·patch·ing, dis·patch·es also des·patch·es

  1. To relegate to a specific destination or send on specific business. See Synonyms at send1.

    1. To complete, transact, or dispose of promptly.

    2. To eat up (food); finish off (a dish or meal).

  3. To put to death summarily.

n.  

  1. The act of sending off, as to a specific destination.

  2. Dismissal or rejection of something regarded as unimportant or unworthy of consideration: "[his] breezy dispatch of another Establishment fiction writer" (Christopher Hitchens).

  3. The act of putting to death.

  4. Speed in performance or movement. See Synonyms at haste.

  5. also (dĭs'pāch')

    1. A written message, particularly an official communication, sent with speed.

    2. An important message sent by a diplomat or an officer in the armed forces.

  6. also (dĭs'pāch') A news item sent to a news organization, as by a correspondent.

  7. An organization or conveyance for delivering goods.


[Spanish despachar or Italian dispacciare, both probably ultimately from Old Provençal empachar, to impede, from Vulgar Latin *impāctāre, frequentative of Latin impingere, to dash against; see impinge.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dispatch 
1517, "to send off in a hurry," from Sp. despacher "expedite, hasten," probably opposite of O.Prov. empachar "impede," either from Gallo-Romance *impactare, frequentative of L. pingere "dash against," or ult. from L. pedica "shackle" (see impeach). Meaning "to get rid of by killing" is attested from 1530. Noun sense of "a message sent speedily" is first attested 1582.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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