conquest

[kon-kwest, kong-]

noun

1. the act or state of conquering or the state of being conquered; vanquishment.

   Synonyms: mastery, defeat, subjugation
   Antonyms: surrender

2. the winning of favor, affection, love, etc..

   the conquest of Antony by Cleopatra.

   Synonyms: enchantment, seduction

3. a person whose favor, affection, etc., has been won.

   He's another one of her conquests.

4. anything acquired by conquering, as a nation, a territory, or spoils.

5. the Conquest. Norman Conquest.

conquest

¹

/ ˈkɒnkwɛst, ˈkɒŋ- /

noun

1. the act or an instance of conquering or the state of having been conquered; victory

2. a person, thing, etc, that has been conquered or won

3. the act or art of gaining a person's compliance, love, etc, by seduction or force of personality

4. a person, whose compliance, love, etc, has been won over by seduction or force of personality

Conquest

²

/ ˈkɒnkwɛst, ˈkɒŋ- /

noun

1. See Norman Conquest

2. the conquest by the United Kingdom of French North America, ending in 1763

Other Word Forms

• postconquest adjective
• reconquest noun
• self-conquest noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conquest¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English conqueste, from Anglo-French, Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin conquēsta (for Latin conquīsīta, feminine past participle of conquīrere ). See con-, quest

Word History and Origins

Origin of conquest¹

C13: from Old French conqueste, from Vulgar Latin conquēsta (unattested), from Latin conquīsīta, feminine past participle of conquīrere to seek out, procure; see _conquer

Synonym Study

See victory.

Example Sentences

The intricate ensemble, weighing in at less than 4 pounds, somehow survived the Spanish conquest, a perilous ocean crossing and two centuries of musty anonymity in a Tirolean castle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Christianity was present in this part of the world long before the rise of Islam during the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century AD.

Read more on Barron's

This is conquest economics, meant to drive competitors out of business and make them dependent on China.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As new territories were brought into the empire by alliance or conquest, they were added to the network, facilitating communication, public works and military movements, and providing a potent reminder of Inca dominion.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I hope it is successful enough for us to continue exploring this alternative version of the conquest of Mexico, because there are still many ideas left,” says Meza-Leon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annexation 
• invasion 
• occupation 
• rout 
• subjugation 
• takeover