The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Despatch \De*spatch"\, n. & v.
   Same as Dispatch.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dispatch \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.
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            Ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
            The business we have talked of.       --Shak.
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            [The] harvest men . . . almost in one fair day
            dispatcheth all the harvest work.     --Robynson
                                                  (More's
                                                  Utopia).
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   2. To rid; to free. [Obs.]
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            I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge.
                                                  --Udall.
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   3. To get rid of by sending off; to send away hastily.
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            Unless dispatched to the mansion house in the
            country . . . they perish among the lumber of
            garrets.                              --Walpole.
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   4. To send off or away; -- particularly applied to sending
      off messengers, messages, letters, etc., on special
      business, and implying haste.
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            Even with the speediest expedition
            I will dispatch him to the emperor's cou??. --Shak.
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   5. To send out of the world; to put to death.
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            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.
        [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dispatch \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.
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   2. Any sending away; dismissal; riddance.
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            To the utter dispatch of all their most beloved
            comforts.                             --Milton.
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   3. The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of
      business; prompt execution; diligence; haste.
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            Serious business, craving quick dispatch. --Shak.
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            To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch
            through a sufficient space.           --Paley.
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   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A message transmitted by telegraph. [Modern]
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   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.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

despatch
    n 1: an official report (usually sent in haste) [syn:
         dispatch, despatch, communique]
    2: the property of being prompt and efficient; "it was done with
       dispatch" [syn: dispatch, despatch, expedition,
       expeditiousness]
    3: killing a person or animal [syn: dispatch, despatch]
    4: the act of sending off something [syn: dispatch,
       despatch, shipment]
    v 1: send away towards a designated goal [syn: dispatch,
         despatch, send off]