Main Entry:

con·quer

Pronunciation:

\ˈkäŋ-kər\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

con·quered; con·quer·ing \-k(ə-)riŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English, to acquire, conquer, from Anglo-French conquerre, from Vulgar Latin *conquaerere, alteration of Latin conquirere to search for, collect, from com- + quaerere to ask, search

Date:

14th century

transitive verb 1 : to gain or acquire by force of arms : subjugate <conquer territory> 2 : to overcome by force of arms : vanquish <conquered the enemy> 3 : to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition <conquered the mountain> 4 : to overcome by mental or moral power : surmount <conquered her fear> intransitive verb : to be victorious

— con·quer·or \-kər-ər\ noun

synonyms conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy. conquer implies gaining mastery of <Caesar conquered Gaul>. vanquish implies a complete overpowering <vanquished the enemy and ended the war>. defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals <the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas>. subdue implies a defeating and suppression <subdued the native tribes after years of fighting>. reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender <the city was reduced after a month-long siege>. overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle <overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks>. overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power <violently overthrew the old regime>.