Defeat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating.]
Etymology: [From F. défait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.] His unkindness may defeat my life. Shak.
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. Tillotson. The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession. Hallam. 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. Shak.
1 more senses
Syn. -- To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Defeat, n.
1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak.
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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for defeat; he lists it under beat, conquer.
Where he writes about it:
To defeat an enemy is to gain an advantage for the time; to vanquish is to win a signal victory; to conquer is to overcome so effectually that the victory is regarded as final. — from conquer