3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Defeat \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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
defeat
n 1: an unsuccessful ending [syn: {licking}] [ant: {victory}]
2: the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted
in attaining your goals [syn: {frustration}]
v 1: win a victory over "You must overcome all difficulties";
"defeat your enemies"; "He overcame his shyness"; "She
conquered here fear of mice"; "He overcame his
infirmity" [syn: {overcome}]
2: thwart the passage of "kill a motion" [syn: {kill}, {vote
down}, {vote out}]
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