Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Defeat
De-feat′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Defeated
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defeating
.] [From F.
défait
, OF. desfait
, p. p. ofe défaire
, OF. desfaire
, to undo; L. dis-
+ facere
to do. See Feat
, Fact
, and cf. Disfashion
.] 1.
To undo; to disfigure; to destroy.
[Obs.]
His unkindness may
defeat
my life. Shakespeare
2.
To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can
defeat
all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes. Tillotson.
The escheators . . .
defeated
the right heir of his succession. Hallam.
In one instance he
defeated
his own purpose. A. W. Ward.
3.
To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
4.
To resist with success;
as, to
. defeat
an assault
Syn. – To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
1.
An undoing or annulling; destruction.
[Obs.]
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damned
A damned
defeat
was made. Shakespeare
2.
Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success;
as, the
. defeat
of a plan or design3.
An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; – opposed to
victory
. Webster 1828 Edition
Defeat
DEFEAT
, n.1.
Overthrow; loss of battle; the check, rout, or destruction of an army by the victory of an enemy.2.
Successful resistance; as the defeat of an attack.3.
Frustration; a rendering null and void; as the defeat of a title.4.
Frustration; prevention of success; as the defeat of a plan or design.DEFEAT
, v.t.1.
To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse or ruin by victory; to overthrow; applies to an army, or a division of troops; to a fleet, or to a commander.The English army defeated the French on the plains of Abraham. Gen. Wolf defeated Montcalm. The French defeated the Austrians at Marengo.
2.
To frustrate; to prevent the success of; to disappoint.Then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 2 Sam. Xv. And xvii.
We say, our dearest hopes are often defeated.
3.
To render null and void; as, to defeat a title or an estate.4.
To resist with success; as, to defeat an attempt or assault.Definition 2024
defeat
defeat
English
Verb
defeat (third-person singular simple present defeats, present participle defeating, simple past and past participle defeated)
- (transitive) To overcome in battle or contest.
- Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.
- (transitive) To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
- Tillotson
- He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.
- A. W. Ward
- In one instance he defeated his own purpose.
- Tillotson
- To nullify
- Hallam
- The escheators […] defeated the right heir of his succession.
- Hallam
Synonyms
Related terms
Related terms
Translations
to overcome in battle or contest
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to reduce, to nothing, the strength of
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Noun
defeat (plural defeats)
- The act of defeating or being defeated.
- 2012 May 13, Alistair Magowan, “Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:
- Two defeats in five games coming into this contest, and a draw with Everton, ultimately cost Sir Alex Ferguson's side in what became the most extraordinary finale to the league championship since Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield in 1989.
-
Translations
the act of defeating or being defeated
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