conquer

To defeat in combat; to subjugate.

Verb

  1. To defeat in combat; to subjugate.
    • I lay in the desert beyond all cities and sounds, and above me flowed the River of Silence through the sky; and on the desert’s edge night fought against the Sun, and suddenly conquered. - 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e.,...

    Synonyms: overrun

  2. To acquire by force of arms, win in war; to become ruler of; to subjugate.
    • In 1453, the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople.
    • I haue beene wooed, as I intreat thee now, / Euen by the ſterne, and direfull God of warre, / VVhoſe ſinowie necke in battel nere did bow, / VVho conquers where he comes in euery iarre; […] - 1594, [William...
    • We conquer'd France, but felt our captive's charms. - 1714, Alexander Pope, Imitation of Horace, Book II. Sat. 6:
  3. To overcome an abstract obstacle.
    • Today I conquered my fear of flying by finally boarding a plane.
    • to conquer difficulties or temptations
    • By winning words to conquer willing hearts, / And make persuasion do the work of fear. - 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […]...
  4. To gain, win, or obtain by effort.
    • to conquer freedom; to conquer a peace

Origin

From Middle English conqueren, from Old French conquerre, from Late Latin conquaerere (“to knock, strike; to search for, procure”), from Latin con- + quaerere (“to seek, acquire”). Displaced native Old English oferwinnan.

Forms

conquers conquering conquered no-table-tags glossary conquer conquerest conqueredst conquereth - conquere conquire

Related

conquest

Derived

all-conquering conquerable conqueree conquerer conqueress conqueringly conquerment conqueror conquest divide and conquer love conquers all preconquer reconquer unconquerable unconquered unconquering