CONQUER
suppress, stamp down, subdue, conquer
(verb) bring under control by force or authority; “suppress a nascent uprising”; “stamp down on littering”; “conquer one’s desires”
conquer
(verb) overcome by conquest; “conquer your fears”; “conquer a country”
appropriate, capture, seize, conquer
(verb) take possession of by force, as after an invasion; “the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants”; “The army seized the town”; “The militia captured the castle”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
conquer (third-person singular simple present conquers, present participle conquering, simple past and past participle conquered)
To defeat in combat; to subjugate.
To acquire by force of arms, win in war.
To overcome an abstract obstacle.
(dated) To gain, win, or obtain by effort.
Source: Wiktionary
Con"quer, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conquered; p.pr. & vb.n. Conquering.]
Etym: [OF. conquerre, F. conquérir, fr. L. conquirere, -quisitum, to
seek or search for, to bring together, LL., to conquer; con- +
quaerere to seek. See Quest.]
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." Shak.
If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us. Shak.
We conquered France, but felt our captive's charms. Pope.
2. To subdue or overcome by mental or moral power; to surmount; as,
to conquer difficulties, temptatin, etc.
By winning words to conquer hearts, And make persuasion do the work
of fear. Milton.
3. To gain or obtain, overcoming obstacles in the way; to win; as, to
conquer freedom; to conquer a peace.
Syn.
– 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.
Con"quer, v. i.
Definition: To gain the victory; to overcome; to prevail.
He went forth conquering and to conquer. Rev. vi. 2.
The champions resolved to conquer or to die. Waller.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition