n.
Pronunciation: ' chek- ˌ m ā t
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English chekmaten, from chekmate, interjection used to announce checkmate, from Anglo-French eschec mat, from Arabic sh ā h m ā t, from Persian, literally, the king is left unable to escape
Date: 14th century
1 : to arrest, thwart, or counter completely
2 : to check (a chess opponent's king) so that escape is impossible