de|feat

de|feat
de|feat «dih FEET», verb, noun.
–v.t.
1. to win a victory over; overcome: »

to defeat an army, to defeat an opponent in an election. Washington defeated Cornwallis at Yorktown.

2. Figurative. to make useless; cause to fail: »

to defeat someone's plans. His effort to toughen himself by going without an overcoat defeated itself, for he caught a bad cold.

 SYNONYM(S): frustrate, thwart.
3. Figurative. to do out of; deprive: »

His bad temper defeated him of ultimate success.

SYNONYM(S): defraud.
4. Law. to make null and void; annul.
5. Obsolete. to undo; destroy; ruin: »

His unkindness may defeat my life (Shakespeare).

–n.
1. a defeating: »

Washington's defeat of Cornwallis ended the Revolutionary War.

SYNONYM(S): conquest.
2. a being defeated: »

Cornwallis's defeat at Yorktown marked the end of British power in the United States.

SYNONYM(S): loss, overthrow.
3. Figurative. a making useless.
4. Obsolete. undoing; destruction; ruin.
╂[< Old French desfeit, past participle of desfaire < Vulgar Latin diffacere < Latin dis- un-, not + facere do]
Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Defeat, conquer, vanquish, overcome mean to win a victory over someone or something. Defeat means to win a victory, at least for the moment: »

We defeated Lincoln High School in baseball yesterday.

Conquer emphasizes final achievement after a long effort in winning control over people, things, or feelings: »

Some countries may be defeated but never conquered. Doctors are seeking ways to conquer disease. Try to conquer your fears.

 Vanquish emphasizes completely overpowering another, usually in a single encounter: »

The champion vanquished the challengers one by one.

Overcome implies getting the better of someone or something, especially a habit or feeling: »

He could not overcome his dislike for that man.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • Feat — Feat, a. [Compar. {Feater}; superl. {Featest}.] [F. fait made, shaped, fit, p. p. of faire to make or do. See {Feat}, n.] Dexterous in movements or service; skillful; neat; nice; pretty. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] Never master had a page . . . so… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Feat-bodied — Feat bod ied, a. Having a feat or trim body. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • feat — [ fit ] noun count something impressive that someone does: feats of strength/endurance/skill be no mean feat (=not be easy to achieve): We ve remained profitable for 27 years, and that s no mean feat …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • feat — n Feat, exploit, achievement denote a remarkable deed or performance. Feat applies particularly to an act involving physical strength, dexterity, and often courage; an exploit is an adventurous, heroic, or brilliant deed; achievement emphasizes… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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  • Feat — Feat, v. t. To form; to fashion. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] To the more mature, A glass that feated them. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • feat — mid 14c., action, deeds, from Anglo Fr. fet, from O.Fr. fait (12c.) action, deed, achievement, from L. factum thing done, a noun based on the pp. of facere make, do (see FACTITIOUS (Cf. factitious)). Sense of exceptional or noble deed arose… …   Etymology dictionary

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