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Webster 1913 Edition

Defeat

De-feat′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Defeated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Defeating
.]
[From F.
défait
, OF.
desfait
, p. p. ofe
défaire
, OF.
desfaire
, to undo; L.
dis-
+
facere
to do. See
Feat
,
Fact
, and cf.
Disfashion
.]
1.
To undo; to disfigure; to destroy.
[Obs.]
His unkindness may
defeat
my life.
Shakespeare
2.
To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can
defeat
all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.
Tillotson.
The escheators . . .
defeated
the right heir of his succession.
Hallam.
In one instance he
defeated
his own purpose.
A. W. Ward.
3.
To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
4.
To resist with success;
as, to
defeat
an assault
.
Syn. – To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.

De-feat′

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
défaite
, fr.
défaire
. See
Defeat
,
Verb.
]
1.
An undoing or annulling; destruction.
[Obs.]
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;
as, the
defeat
of a plan or design
.
3.
An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; – opposed to
victory
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Defeat

DEFEAT

, n.
1.
Overthrow; loss of battle; the check, rout, or destruction of an army by the victory of an enemy.
2.
Successful resistance; as the defeat of an attack.
3.
Frustration; a rendering null and void; as the defeat of a title.
4.
Frustration; prevention of success; as the defeat of a plan or design.

DEFEAT

, v.t.
1.
To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse or ruin by victory; to overthrow; applies to an army, or a division of troops; to a fleet, or to a commander.
The English army defeated the French on the plains of Abraham. Gen. Wolf defeated Montcalm. The French defeated the Austrians at Marengo.
2.
To frustrate; to prevent the success of; to disappoint.
Then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 2 Sam. Xv. And xvii.
We say, our dearest hopes are often defeated.
3.
To render null and void; as, to defeat a title or an estate.
4.
To resist with success; as, to defeat an attempt or assault.

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