WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : De*feat"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [From F. d?fait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe d?faire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
Definition : 1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.] His unkindness may defeat my life. Shak.

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. Sharp reasons to defeat the law. Shak.

Syn. -- To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.

t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : De*feat"
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Cf. F. d?faite, fr. d?faire. See Defeat, v.]
Definition : 1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak.

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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913