dispatch

Plural: dispatches

Noun

an official report (usually sent in haste)
the act of sending off something
the property of being prompt and efficient
- "it was done with dispatch"
killing a person or animal
A message sent quickly, as a shipment, a prompt settlement of a business, or an important official message sent by a diplomat, government official, military officer, etc.
The act of doing something quickly.
A mission by an emergency response service, typically involving attending to an emergency in the field.
The passing on of a message for further processing, especially through a dispatch table.
A dismissal.

Verb

Verb Forms: dispatched, dispatching, dispatches

To send off quickly to a destination or on a mission.
send away towards a designated goal
complete or carry out
kill intentionally and with premeditation
dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently
- "He dispatched the task he was assigned"
kill without delay
- "the traitor was dispatched by the conspirators"
To send (a shipment) with promptness.
To send (a person) away hastily.
To send (an important official message) promptly, by means of a diplomat or military officer.
To send (a journalist) to a place in order to report.
To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly; to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform.
To rid; to free.
To destroy (someone or something) quickly and efficiently.
To defeat
To pass on for further processing, especially via a dispatch table (often with to).
To hurry.
To deprive.

Examples

I must DISPATCH this bingo play before my opponent blocks the crucial letter.
We must act with dispatch in this matter.

Origin / Etymology

From Spanish despachar or Italian dispacciare, replacing alternate reflex depeach, which is from French dépêcher. Further, several steps omitting, from Latin dis- + impedicō (whence impeach). The first known use in writing (in the past tense, spelled as dispached) is by Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall in 1517. This would be unusually early for a borrowing from a Romance language other than French, but Tunstall had studied in Italy and was Commissioner to Spain, so this word may have been borrowed through diplomatic circles. The alternative spelling despatch was introduced in Samuel Johnson's dictionary, probably by accident.
Compare typologically deliver (for the meaning to bring or transport) (< Latin dē- + līberō).

Synonyms

bump off, communique, complete, despatch, discharge, expedition, expeditiousness, hit, murder, off, polish off, remove, send off, shipment, slay, destroy, haste, hurry, kill, make haste, rapidity, send

Scrabble Score: 16

dispatch: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
dispatch: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
dispatch: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

dispatch: valid Words With Friends Word