conquer

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French conquerre, from Late Latin conquaerere (“to knock, strike; to search for, procure”), from Latin con- + quaerere (“to seek, acquire”).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɒŋkə/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɑŋkɚ/
  • Hyphenation: con‧quer
  • Rhymes: -ɒŋkə(ɹ)
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Homophone: conker

Verb

conquer (third-person singular simple present conquers, present participle conquering, simple past and past participle conquered)

  1. To defeat in combat; to subjugate.
  2. To acquire by force of arms, win in war.
    In 1453, the Ottoman Empire conquered Istanbul.
    • 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC; 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Field, […], 1594, →OCLC, [verse 17], lines [97–100]:
      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; […]
    • (Can we date this quote by Alexander Pope and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      We conquered France, but felt our captive's charms.
  3. To overcome an abstract obstacle.
    Today I conquered my fear of flying by finally boarding a plane.
    to conquer difficulties or temptations
    • (Can we date this quote by John Milton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      By winning words to conquer hearts, / And make persuasion do the work of fear.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 8, in The Celebrity:
      The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained.
  4. (dated) To gain, win, or obtain by effort.
    to conquer freedom;   to conquer a peace

Derived terms

Derived terms

Template:der-mid

Translations

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