Defeat — Defs

01 v. t. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy.

imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating

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.

02 n. An undoing or annulling; destruction.

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.