CONQUER

verb (~ed; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English, to acquire, ~, from Anglo-French ~re, from Vulgar Latin *conquaerere, alteration of Latin conquirere to search for, collect, from com- + quaerere to ask, search Date: 14th century transitive verb to gain or acquire by force of arms ; subjugate , to overcome by force of arms ; vanquish , to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition , to overcome by mental or moral power ; surmount , intransitive verb to be victorious, ~or noun Synonyms: see: ~