[de.feat] vt [ME deffeten, fr. MF deffait, pp. of deffaire to destroy, fr. OF desfaire, fr. ML disfacere, fr. L dis- + facere to do--more at do] (14c) 1 obs: destroy
2. a: nullify "~ an estate" b: frustrate 2a(1) "~ a hope"
3: to win victory over: beat "~ the opposing team" syn see conquer
[2]defeat n (1590) 1: frustration by nullification or by prevention of success "the bill suffered ~ in the Senate"
2. obs: destruction 3 a: an overthrow esp. of an army in battle b: the loss of a contest