Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of sending something off: The act of sending something or someone to a particular place for a specific purpose.
   • Speed and efficiency in action: The quality of being prompt and efficient in completing a task.
   • An official message or report: A written message, often official or urgent, sent with speed.
   • The act of killing: The act of killing a person or animal, especially in a quick and efficient manner.

2. Verb:

   • To send off to a destination: To send something or someone somewhere, typically for a specific purpose.
   • To deal with something quickly and efficiently: To complete a task or dispose of something with speed and efficiency.
   • To kill deliberately: To kill someone or something, often summarily.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The dispatch of the rescue team was immediate. (The sending off of the rescue team was immediate.)
  • She handled the crisis with great dispatch. (She handled the crisis with great speed and efficiency.)
  • We received a dispatch from the headquarters. (We received an official message from the headquarters.)
  • The dispatch of the wounded horse was a sad necessity. (The killing of the wounded horse was a sad necessity.)

• Verb:

  • Please dispatch this package to our London office. (Please send this package to our London office.)
  • He dispatched his homework in under an hour. (He completed his homework in under an hour.)
  • The agent was ordered to dispatch the target. (The agent was ordered to kill the target.)

Advanced Usage

• "with dispatch": (adverbial phrase) Promptly and efficiently.

  • The complaint was handled with dispatch. (The complaint was handled promptly and efficiently.)

• "to dispatch a message": To send a message, especially an official one.

  • The general dispatched a message requesting reinforcements. (The general sent a message requesting reinforcements.)

Variants and Related Words

• Despatch: An alternative, chiefly British, spelling of "dispatch." The meanings are identical.
• Dispatcher (n): A person, especially one who works for a transportation or emergency service, whose job is to receive messages and send the appropriate people or vehicles.
  • The taxi dispatcher sent a car to our location.
• Dispatch box/case (n): A container for carrying official documents.

Synonyms

• Send (v): To cause to go or be taken to a place.
• Expedite (v): To make an action or process happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly.
• Execute (v): To carry out or put into effect (a plan, order, or course of action); can also mean to kill as a legal punishment.
• Slay (v): To kill violently or in great numbers.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Dispatch" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically conveyed by the verb alone or with a direct object.)

Related Idioms

• Happy dispatch: (historical, euphemistic) A reference to seppuku (ritual suicide by disembowelment) in Japanese culture.
  • The term 'happy dispatch' is an old euphemism for ritual suicide.

Noun

1. killing a person or animal
2. the property of being prompt and efficient
   • it was done with dispatch
3. the act of sending off something
4. an official report (usually sent in haste)

Verb

1. kill without delay
   • the traitor was dispatched by the conspirators
2. dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently
   • He dispatched the task he was assigned
3. kill intentionally and with premeditation
   • The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered
4. complete or carry out
   • discharge one's duties
5. send away towards a designated goal