I. də̇ˈfēt, dēˈ-, usu -fēd.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English deffeten, from Middle French desfait, deffait, past participle of desfaire, deffaire to destroy, from Old French, from Medieval Latin disfacere, from Latin dis- + facere to do — more at do
1. archaic : undo , destroy
his unkindness may defeat my life — Shakespeare
2. obsolete : to mar the looks of : disfigure
3. : to render null and void (as a title to property, a legal claim) : nullify , frustrate
defeated hopes
4. : to win victory over, check the progress of, or destroy the power of : overcome , overthrow
defeat an army in battle
defeated the opposing candidate by a large margin
defeated in all his purposes
the bill was defeated in the senate
5. : to decrease the ability of (as a stream) to erode or to maintain a course
a stream defeated by crustal movement
Synonyms: see conquer
II. noun
( -s )
1. archaic : undoing : destruction — often used with on
upon whose property and most dear life a damned defeat was made — Shakespeare
2. : frustration by rendering null and void or by prevention of success
the defeat of a plan
3. : an overthrow especially of an army in battle : loss of a contest : repulse , discomfiture — opposed to victory