I. di-ˈfēt, dē- transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English deffeten, from Anglo-French defait, past participle of defaire, desfaire to destroy, from Medieval Latin disfacere, from Latin dis- + facere to do — more at do
Date: 14th century
1. obsolete : destroy
2.
a. : nullify
defeat an estate
b. : frustrate 2a(1)
defeat a hope
3. : to win victory over : beat
defeat the opposing team
Synonyms: see conquer
• de·feat·able -ˈfē-tə-bəl adjective
II. noun
Date: 1590
1. : frustration by nullification or by prevention of success
the bill suffered defeat in the Senate
2. obsolete : destruction
3.
a. : an overthrow especially of an army in battle
b. : the loss of a contest