Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Defeat?

\De*feat"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Defeated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Defeating}.] [From F. d['e]fait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe d['e]faire, 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. --Shak. 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. Sharp reasons to defeat the law. --Shak. Syn: To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
\De*feat"\, n. [Cf. F. d['e]faite, fr. d['e]faire. See {Defeat}, v.] 1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. --Shak. 2. Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design. 3. An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.