1. Send away towards a designated goal
   "The company despatched the goods to the customer";
   - dispatch, send off
    
2. Kill without delay
   "the traitor was despatched by the conspirators";
   - dispatch
    
3. Dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently
   "He despatched the task he was assigned";
   - dispatch
    
4. Kill intentionally and with premeditation
   "The mafia boss ordered his enemies despatched";
   - murder, slay [literary], dispatch, bump off [informal], off [N. Amer, informal], polish off [informal], croak [informal]
    
5. Carry out, fulfil
   "despatch one's duties";
   - dispatch, discharge, complete

1. The act of sending off something
   "The despatch of the urgent package was handled with priority";
   - dispatch, shipment
    
2. An official report (usually sent in haste)
   "The embassy issued a despatch regarding the diplomatic incident";
   - dispatch, communiqué
    
3. The property of being prompt and efficient
   "it was done with despatch";
   - dispatch, expedition, expeditiousness
    
4. Killing a person or animal
   "The hunter's quick despatch of the wounded animal was merciful";
   - dispatch

Derived forms: despatched, despatching, despatches

See also: clip [informal], do in [informal], knock off [informal], liquidate, neutralise [Brit], neutralize, take out [informal], waste [informal], whack [informal]

Type of: accomplish, account, act, action, carry out, carry through, celerity [archaic], departure, execute, fulfil [Brit, Cdn], fulfill [N. Amer], going, going away, kill, killing, leaving, move, news report, putting to death, quickness, rapidity, rapidness, report, send, ship, speediness, story, transport, write up

Encyclopedia: Despatch, South Africa