Transmit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transmitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Transmitting.]
Etymology: [L. transmittere, transmissum; trans across, over + mittere to send: cf. F. transmettre. See Missile.]
1. To cause to pass over or through; to communicate by sending; to send from one person or place to another; to pass on or down as by inheritance; as, to transmit a memorial; to transmit dispatches; to transmit money, or bills of exchange, from one country to another. The ancientest fathers must be next removed, as Clement of Alexandria, and that Eusebian book of evangelic preparation, transmitting our ears through a hoard of heathenish obscenities to receive the gospel. Milton. The scepter of that kingdom continued to be transmitted in the dynasty of Castile. Prescott.
2. To suffer to pass through; as, glass transmits light; metals transmit, or conduct, electricity.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for transmit; he lists it under carry, convey, send.
Where he writes about it:
Convey, transmit, and transport all imply delivery at a destination; as, I will convey the information to your friend; air conveys sound (to a listener); carry does not necessarily imply delivery, and often does not admit of it. — from convey
A man carries an appearance, conveys an impression, the appearance remaining his own, the impression being given to another; I will transmit the letter; transport the goods. — from convey
Transport usually refers to material, transfer, transmit, and convey may refer to immaterial objects; we transfer possession, transmit intelligence, convey ideas, but do not transport them. — from convey
Transmit, from the Latin, is a dignified term, often less vigorous than the Saxon send, but preferable at times in literary or scientific use; as, to transmit the crown, or the feud, from generation to generation; to transmit a charge of electricity. — from send
Transmit fixes the attention more on the intervening agency, as send does upon the points of departure and destination. — from send