despatch

Everyday

1. To despatch something is to send it off, especially a parcel, letter or message. tree →
2. To despatch someone is to send them somewhere to do a job. tree →
3. (formal) To despatch a task is to do it quickly; (old) to despatch someone can mean to kill them. tree →
4. A despatch is a sending, or an official report or message, for example from a war. tree →

In the lessons

Despatch is a British spelling of dispatch. In shops and online orders: «your order has been despatched». In history and war stories: soldiers «mentioned in despatches» were praised in official reports. Phrases: «with despatch» (quickly), «despatch rider» (a messenger on a motorbike).

Examples

• Your parcel was despatched this morning. tree →
• The ambulance was despatched to the accident. tree →
• The general sent a despatch to London. tree →
• She despatched her homework in ten minutes. tree →
• In the old story, the knight despatched the dragon. tree →
• Despatch riders carried messages in the war. tree →
• They then despatched a herald on board of her, demanding the surrender of Medea and the Fleece. tree →

Note

Same as dispatch (more common today, especially in the US). Regular verb. Plural noun: despatches. Both spellings are correct.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means to kill, to put someone to death with the sword.

Interpretation. Ezekiel's picture of punishment for Oholah and Oholibah is read as a warning about unfaithfulness to God.

Examples

• And the assembly shall stone them with stones, and despatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire. (Prophets EZK.23.47, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Same as dispatch (more common today, especially in the US). Regular verb. Plural noun: despatches. Both spellings are correct.