Defeat /(?)/

De·feat

Defeat

v. t.

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

  1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.]
    His unkindness may defeat my life.
  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.
    The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession.
    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.

Defeat

n.
  1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.]
    Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made.
  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.