n.
Pronunciation: di- ' spach
Function: verb
Etymology: Spanish despachar or Italian dispacciare, from Occitan despachar to get rid of, from Middle French despechier to set free, from Old French, from des- dis- + -pechier (as in enpechier to ensnare) ― more at IMPEACH
Date: 1517
transitive verb
1 : to send off or away with promptness or speed especially : to send off on official business
2 a : to kill with quick efficiency b obsolete : DEPRIVE
3 : to dispose of (as a task) rapidly or efficiently
4 : DEFEAT 3
intransitive verb archaic : to make haste : HURRY
synonyms see KILL
– dis · patch · er noun