Defeat, vb. 1) to undo, to destroy: “it is my love that doth my rest d.” Sonn. 61, 11. “my honour's at the stake; which to d. I must produce my power,” All's II, 3, 156 (i. e. to defeat the danger threatening my honour). “your activity may d. and quell the source of all erection,” Tim. IV, 3, 163. with a --ed joy, Hml. 1, 2, 1, 2 “my stronger guilt --s my strong intent,” III, 3, 40. “his unkindness may d. my life,” Oth. IV, 2, 160.
2) to disappoint: “if these men have --ed the law and outrun native punishment,” H5 IV, 1, 175. “alleged many sharp reasons to d. the law,” H8 II, 1, 14. “therein, you gods, you tyrants do d.” Caes. I, 3, 92. “thou strikest not me, 'tis Caesar thou --est,” Ant. IV, 14, 68. “lest by some mortal stroke she do d. us,” V, 1, 65. Followed by of: “nature . . . by addition me of thee --ed,” Sonn. 20, 11. “to have --ed you and me, you of your wife and me of my consent,” Mids. IV, 1, 162.
3) to disfigure: “d. thy favour with an usurped beard,” Oth. I, 3, 346.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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