Defeat
[dɪ'fiːt] or [dɪ'fit]
Definition
(noun.) an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest; 'it was a narrow defeat'; 'the army's only defeat'; 'they suffered a convincing licking'.
Checked by Benita--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To undo; to disfigure; to destroy.
(v. t.) To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
(v. t.) To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
(v. t.) To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.
(v.) An undoing or annulling; destruction.
(v.) Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
(v.) An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.
Checker: Sheena
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Overthrow, downfall, rout, discomfiture, repulse.[2]. Frustration.
v. a. [1]. Conquer, overthrow, overcome, vanquish, checkmate, repulse, beat, discomfit, rout.[2]. Frustrate, baffle, foil, balk, disconcert, disappoint.
Editor: Paula
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Conquer, overcome, worst, beat, baffle, rout, overthrow, vanquish, frustrate,foil
ANT:Secure, promote, insure, speed, advance, establish, aid
SYN:Frustration, overthrow, discomfiture
ANT:Victory, triumph, success
Checker: Phyllis
Definition
v.t. to frustrate: to ruin.—n. a frustration of plans: ruin: overthrow as of an army in battle.—n. Defeat′ure (Spens.) defeat: disfigurement disguise.
Typist: Oliver
Examples
- The eastern armies did not so much defeat him as push past him, and Paris capitulated in March. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Hence it was necessary to maintain a constant vigilance to defeat the insidious attacks of carping critics and others who would attempt to injure the Edison system by misleading statements. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- What is defeat? Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Even now she would not own defeat. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- I must be my own mamma, said Rebecca; not without a tingling consciousness of defeat, as she thought over her little misadventure with Jos Sedley. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Evidently he did not relish the thought that Issus had learned of his inglorious defeat. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- The frightened slaves about her trembled in wide-eyed expectancy, knowing not whether to pray for our victory or our defeat. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- After several severe skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, General Steele reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of April. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- He defeated the Babylonian army, under Belshazzar, outside Babylon, and then laid siege to the town. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- He returned to France after Sedan, and flung himself into the stormy politics of the defeated nation with great fire and vigour. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- There was a series of battles, in which the Russian armies were finally defeated and the Grand Duke of Kieff taken prisoner. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- I replied, half defeated already, that I wished to speak to himself only if he would give me leave. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- By this, however, the enemy was defeated in his designs upon Sherman's line of communications. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- He met the enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and defeated him. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Undismayed by forty or fifty previous defeats, Glorvina laid siege to him. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Consequently it defeats its own professed purpose. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Life covers customs, institutions, beliefs, victories and defeats, recreations and occupations. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- But though the insurgents experienced defeats and looting, neither of these generals brought the war to an end. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Consequently an attempt to train for too specific a mode of efficiency defeats its own purpose. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- But I travel to learn, and I still remember that they picture no French defeats in the battle-galleries of Versailles. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- You might say that genius works inductively and finds a method; the conservative works deductively from the method and defeats whatever genius he may have. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- A pair of boot lacings, returned Jo, guessing and defeating his purpose. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Still, your mode of defeating Caliphronas is hardly English. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- Filibustering and delay in the counting of the votes are often the only means we have of defeating bad legislation. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- The Scotch were then awakened and succeeded in defeating their assailants. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- A lamp so constructed and made before 1872 was worth a large sum of money to those interested in defeating the Edison patent like the American Company, and Goebel was not a rich man. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Decimus Forthridge, of the American brig Independence, showed his Yankee pluck and resource in defeating an attack of Malay pirates with no other armament than fancy fireworks. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the railroad bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the enemy's cavalry. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
Typed by Judy