checkmate English · revision 1918

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈt͡ʃɛkmeɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''chek mat'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|eschec mat]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[der|ar|شاه مات|tr=šāh māt]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fa|شاه مات|tr=šāh māt]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The Arabic phrase was understood as “the king died”, but Barnhart, followed by Etymonline, sees a misinterpretation of Persian ''māt'' “astonished, stumped”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) so that the Persian phrase meant “the king is left helpless”.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The first element is related to [[shah]] and to [[check]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In chess, the cry of a player putting the opposing king in inescapable check, and the move itself (before 1346).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the start the word was used figuratively as well, for defeating or undoing someone completely.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb is recorded from the late 14th century, first in the figurative sense of thwarting or defeating;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) as a chess term the verb dates only from 1789.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1346 – the chess cry; to say checkmate, to defeat.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1375 – verb, to checkmate (Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1400 – verb, to defeat utterly.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1789 – verb, in chess.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # In [[chess]], a move that attacks the opposing [[king]] so that it cannot escape, ending the game; also the position of a king so attacked.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Complete defeat.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put an opponent's king in checkmate.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To defeat or [[thwart]] completely.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Said in chess when giving checkmate.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stalemate]]

+ * [[check]]

+ * [[chess]]

+ * [[mate]]

+ * [[shah]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}