Word: dispatch (verb, noun)

Associations

The word "dispatch" can be both a verb and a noun.

As a verb, "dispatch" means to send something or someone quickly to a place for a purpose.

• Example 1: The company dispatched a repair team to fix the broken machine. (Here, "dispatch" means to send the team quickly.)
• Example 2: The police dispatched officers to the scene of the accident. (Sending officers fast.)
• Example 3: She dispatched the letter before noon. (Sent the letter.)

As a noun, "dispatch" refers to the act of sending something or a message sent quickly.

• Example 1: The dispatch from the reporter arrived just in time. (A message sent quickly.)
• Example 2: The military received a dispatch about the mission. (An official message.)
• Example 3: The dispatch of goods was delayed due to weather. (The act of sending goods.)

Synonym: "send" is a common synonym for "dispatch." The difference is that "dispatch" often implies speed and official or purposeful sending. "Send" is more general and can be slower or casual.

Substitution

Depending on meaning, you can use:

• send (general)
• deliver (for packages or messages)
• transmit (for messages or signals)
• forward (for emails or letters)
• deploy (for people or resources, especially in military or work contexts)

Each word changes the tone or formality slightly. For example, "deploy" is more formal and used for people or equipment in action.

Deconstruction

"Dispatch" comes from Old French "despescher," which means "to hasten" or "to expedite." It is made from:

• prefix "dis-" meaning "away" or "apart"
• root "patch" from Latin "pascere," meaning "to feed" or "to prepare" (originally, it meant to prepare or send away quickly)

So, "dispatch" literally means to send away quickly or with purpose.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where something needs to be dispatched quickly?
• How is "dispatch" different from just "sending" something slowly?
• Have you ever dispatched a message or package? How did you do it?