Webster's English Dictionary

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dispatch

Cross references:
  1. kill                   2. haste                 
 
1. dis.patch \dis-'pach\ vb [Sp despachar or It dispacciare, fr. Prov 
   despachar to get ri]d of, fr. MF despeechier to set free, fr. fr. OF, fr. 
   des + -peechier 1: to send off or away with promptness or speed esp. on 
   official business  2a: to put to death  obs  2b: DEPRIVE  3: to dispose of 
   (as a task) rapidly or efficiently  archaic  : to make haste : HURRY  - 
   dis.patch.er n
2. dispatch n 1: the act of dispatching : as  obs  1a: DISMISSAL  1b: the 
   act of putting to death  1c1: prompt settlement (as of an item of business) 
    1c2: quick riddance  1d: a sending off : SHIPMENT  2a: a message sent with 
   speed; esp : an important official message  sent by a diplomatic, military, 
   or naval officer 2b: a news item sent in by a correspondent to a newspaper  
   3: promptness and efficiency in performance or transmission