defeat

Definitions

1. 1.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.
2. 2.To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
3. 3.To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault. Sharp reasons to defeat the law. Shak.
4. 4.An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak.
5. 5.Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
6. 6.An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "defeat" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is defeat.

• What is to overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow called?
• What is to resist with success; as, to defeat an assault. Sharp reasons to defeat the law. Shak called?
• What is an undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak called?
• What is frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design called?
• What is an overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory called?