[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/despatch/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / despatch

# despatch

verb (despatch, despatches, despatched, despatching); noun (despatch, a despatch)

«despatch» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To despatch something is to send it off, especially a parcel, letter or message. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#m1)
2. To despatch someone is to send them somewhere to do a job. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#m2)
3. (formal) To despatch a task is to do it quickly; (old) to despatch someone can mean to kill them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#m3)
4. A despatch is a sending, or an official report or message, for example from a war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#x1)
- The ambulance was despatched to the accident. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#x2)
- The general sent a despatch to London. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#x3)
- She despatched her homework in ten minutes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#x4)
- In the old story, the knight despatched the dragon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#x5)
- Despatch riders carried messages in the war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#x6)
- They then despatched a herald on board of her, demanding the surrender of Medea and the Fleece. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/#x7)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/despatch/#x1)

### Note

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

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «despatch» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/despatch/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«despatch» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/despatch.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «despatch» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/despatch/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«despatch» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/despatch.html) on Mova free.