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Conquer   /kˈɑŋkər/   Listen
verb
Conquer  v. t.  (past & past part. conquered; pres. part. conquering)  
1.
To gain or acquire by force; to take possession of by violent means; to gain dominion over; to subdue by physical means; to reduce; to overcome by force of arms; to cause to yield; to vanquish. "If thou conquer Rome." "If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us." "We conquered France, but felt our captive's charms."
2.
To subdue or overcome by mental or moral power; to surmount; as, to conquer difficulties, temptation, etc. "By winning words to conquer hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear."
3.
To gain or obtain, overcoming obstacles in the way; to win; as, to conquer freedom; to conquer a peace.
Synonyms: To subdue; vanquish; overcome; overpower; overthrow; defeat; rout; discomfit; subjugate; reduce; humble; crush; surmount; subject; master. To Conquer, Vanquish, Subdue, Subjugate, Overcome. These words agree in the general idea expressed by overcome, that of bringing under one's power by the exertion of force. Conquer is wider and more general than vanquish, denoting usually a succession of conflicts. Vanquish is more individual, and refers usually to a single conflict. Thus, Alexander conquered Asia in a succession of battles, and vanquished Darius in one decisive engagement. Subdue implies a more gradual and continual pressure, but a surer and more final subjection. We speak of a nation as subdued when its spirit is at last broken, so that no further resistance is offered. Subjugate is to bring completely under the yoke of bondage. The ancient Gauls were never finally subdued by the Romans until they were completely subjugated. These words, when used figuratively, have correspondent meanings. We conquer our prejudices or aversions by a succesion of conflicts; but we sometimes vanquish our reluctance to duty by one decided effort: we endeavor to subdue our evil propensities by watchful and persevering exertions. Subjugate is more commonly taken in its primary meaning, and when used figuratively has generally a bad sense; as, his reason was completely subjugated to the sway of his passions.



Conquer  v. i.  To gain the victory; to overcome; to prevail. "He went forth conquering and to conquer." "The champions resolved to conquer or to die."






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Conquer" Quotes from Famous Books



... almost invariably pleaded by powerful belligerents,[84] a fallacy of which no one could wish to accuse Mr. Asquith's solid intellect, lies (quite apart from any question of the priority of aggression) in the fact that any attempt to crush by force the Will to Conquer inevitably breeds more militarism. The tag about taking a lesson from the enemy, fas est et ab hoste doceri, is only one half of the unhappy truth that the fighter is fatally bound to acquire his enemy's worst characteristics. The object undertaken apparently ...
— The World in Chains - Some Aspects of War and Trade • John Mavrogordato

... folly with which he had permitted himself to fall into a hopeless, mad, and nearly fatal passion for one placed so high above him that indeed he might as well have loved some "bright particular star," and hoped to win it. And here on the sacred turf of his mother's grave he resolved once for all to conquer this boyish passion, by devoting himself to the serious business ...
— Ishmael - In the Depths • Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth

... it or not. Sometimes thou drawest up an army of scene-painters, mechanists, dancers, monsters, dwarfs, devils, fire-works, and water-spouts, in terrible array against common sense. Yet lo! thou dost conquer! Thy pieces never miss fire; they go on well with the public, and favourable are the press reports. Wert thou a Catholic thou wouldest be canonised; for evil spirits are thy passion; the Vatican itself cannot produce a more indefatigable ...
— Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete • Various

... Henceforth is sure, for he that hopes to win By treach'ry and deceit, fails sorely in This world of God, and therefore fear him not; It is the foe magnan'mous thou shouldst fear. Our holy ancient writings say it is No sin deceit to conquer by deceit; And hence fail not to send immediate word That Bukka should to-morrow eve expect Thee as befits a woman of thy rank, And with a hundred maidens in his tent. Take twenty litters, and let one appear More gorgeous than the rest, for thee to sit, Take ...
— Tales of Ind - And Other Poems • T. Ramakrishna

... case, the effect (victory) is so vaguely conceived, that a plurality of causes must be allowed for: although, e.g., discipline did not enable the Romans to conquer the Parthians, it may have been their chief advantage over the Germans; and it was certainly important to the English under Henry V. in their ...
— Logic - Deductive and Inductive • Carveth Read


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