conquer English · revision 39801

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c1230, Hali Meidenhad|origins=la conquīrō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈkɒŋkə/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈkɑŋkɚ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|conqueren]] (early [[m|enm|cunquearen]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024) [[bor|fro|conquerre]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-vul|*conquaerō]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) a form of [[la|conquīrō|t=to seek out, search for, procure by effort]] remodelled after the simple verb [[m|la|quaerō|t=to seek, gain]].^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) The Latin compound was formed with [[m|la|con-]], expressing completion.^(OED 2026)^(ODE 2010) The Anglo-Norman Dictionary records the verb from the first third of the 12th century, in senses that range from winning a land by force of arms to earning something by work.^(AND) Ayto relates the Latin verb to [[query]], [[quest]], [[question]], [[inquire]] and [[require]].^(Ayto 2005)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To acquire or gain something by effort: c1230, in ''Hali Meidenhad''; this sense died out after the middle of the 16th century.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline and Barnhart date the Middle English verb to about 1200, and Etymonline glosses it "to achieve (a task)".^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Ayto describes how the Latin idea of searching for something slid into acquiring it, including by force of arms.^(Ayto 2005) The military sense, to win by fighting or to subjugate a country, is recorded from 1297, in Robert of Gloucester's chronicle,^(OED 2026) and to defeat an adversary from c1374, in Chaucer's ''Anelida and Arcite'';^(OED 2026) both senses were already present in Old French.^(OED 2026)^(AND) Ayto notes that William I appears to have been called ''the Conqueror'' from around 1300.^(Ayto 2005) Figurative uses followed: to master or overcome a feeling or difficulty from 1655,^(OED 2026) to win something against opposition from 1676,^(OED 2026) and in mountaineering to climb a peak successfully from 1883.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) defined the verb as to gain by conquest, to overcome, subdue or vanquish.^(Johnson 1755) In West Yorkshire dialect ''conquer over'' meant to crow over someone,^(Wright 1898) and the conker game was also spelt ''conquer'' or ''conqueror''.^(Wright 1898)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1200 – ''cunquearen'', to achieve.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c1230 – to acquire or gain by effort (obsolete after 1552).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1297 – to win by fighting; to subjugate.^(OED 2026)

+ * c1374 – to overcome an adversary; to vanquish.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1655 – figurative, to master or overcome.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1676 – to win by a struggle against opposition.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1883 – (mountaineering) to climb successfully.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take control of a country or people by military [[force]]; to [[subjugate]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # To [[defeat]] or overcome an enemy or opponent: ''The rebels were conquered after a long siege.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # To overcome a difficulty, fear or weakness by effort: ''She finally conquered her fear of flying.''^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # To win someone's love or admiration, or success in a field: ''The young band went on to conquer America.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (mountaineering) To reach the top of a mountain.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[conquerable]]

+ * [[conqueror]]

+ * [[conquerableness]]

+ * [[unconquered]]

+ * [[preconquer]]

+ * [[reconquer]]

+ * [[conquest]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[query]]

+ * [[quest]]

+ * [[question]]

+ * [[inquire]]

+ * [[require]]

+ * [[conker]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}