daunt
[ dawnt, dahnt ]
/ dɔnt, dɑnt /
verb (used with object)
to overcome with fear; intimidate: to daunt one's adversaries.
to lessen the courage of; dishearten: Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.
RELATED WORDS
dismay, discourage, dishearten, subdue, dispirit, intimidate, appall, deter, baffle, horrify, scare, terrify, thwart, bully, cow, consternate, foil, shake, browbeat, overawe
Nearby words
Origin of daunt
1250–1300; Middle English da(u)nten < Anglo-French da(u)nter, Old French danter, alteration of donter (probably by influence of dangier power, authority; see danger) < Latin domitāre to tame, derivative of domitus, past participle of domāre to tame
SYNONYMS FOR daunt
Related formsdaunt·ing·ly, adverbdaunt·ing·ness, nounun·daunt·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for daunt
British Dictionary definitions for daunt
daunt
/ (dɔːnt) /
verb (tr; often passive)
to intimidate
to dishearten
Derived Formsdaunter, noun
Word Origin for daunt
C13: from Old French danter, changed from donter to conquer, from Latin domitāre to tame
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for daunt
daunt
c.1300, "to vanquish," from Old French danter, variant of donter (12c., Modern French dompter) "be afraid of, fear, doubt; control, restrain," from Latin domitare, frequentative of domare "to tame" (see tame (v.)). Sense of "to intimidate" is from late 15c. Related: Daunted; daunting.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper