\Dis*patch"\ (?; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
{Dispatched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dispatching}.] [OF.
despeechier, F. d['e]p[^e]cher; prob. from pref. des- (L.
dis-) + (assumed) LL. pedicare to place obstacles in the way,
fr. L. pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See {Foot}, and
cf. {Impeach}, {Despatch}.] [Written also {despatch}.]
1. To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly;
   to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform.
         Ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The
         business we have talked of.           --Shak.
         [The] harvest men . . . almost in one fair day
         dispatcheth all the harvest work.     --Robynson
                                               (More's
                                               Utopia).
2. To rid; to free. [Obs.]
         I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge.
                                               --Udall.
3. To get rid of by sending off; to send away hastily.
         Unless dispatched to the mansion house in the
         country . . . they perish among the lumber of
         garrets.                              --Walpole.
4. To send off or away; -- particularly applied to sending
   off messengers, messages, letters, etc., on special
   business, and implying haste.
         Even with the speediest expedition I will dispatch
         him to the emperor's cou??.           --Shak.
5. To send out of the world; to put to death.
         The company shall stone them with stones, and
         dispatch them with their swords.      --Ezek. xxiii.
                                               47.
Syn: To expedite; hasten; speed; accelerate; perform;
     conclude; finish; slay; kill.

\Dis*patch"\, v. i.
To make haste; to conclude an affair; to finish a matter of
business.
      They have dispatched with Pompey.        --Shak.

\Dis*patch"\, n. [Cf. OF. despeche, F. d['e]p[^e]che.
See {Dispatch}, v. t.] [Written also {despatch}.]
1. The act of sending a message or messenger in haste or on
   important business.
2. Any sending away; dismissal; riddance.
         To the utter dispatch of all their most beloved
         comforts.                             --Milton.
3. The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of
   business; prompt execution; diligence; haste.
         Serious business, craving quick dispatch. --Shak.
         To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch
         through a sufficient space.           --Paley.
4. A message dispatched or sent with speed; especially, an
   important official letter sent from one public officer to
   another; -- often used in the plural; as, a messenger has
   arrived with dispatches for the American minister; naval
   or military dispatches.
5. A message transmitted by telegraph. [Modern]
{Dispatch boat}, a swift vessel for conveying dispatches; an
   advice boat.
{Dispatch box}, a box for carrying dispatches; a box for
   papers and other conveniences when traveling.
Syn: Haste; hurry; promptness; celerity; speed. See {Haste}.