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daunt

[dawnt, dahnt]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to overcome with fear; intimidate: to daunt one's adversaries.
  2. to lessen the courage of; dishearten: Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.
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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
Related formsdaunt·ing·ly, adverbdaunt·ing·ness, nounun·daunt·ing, adjective

Synonyms

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1. overawe, subdue, dismay, frighten. 2. discourage, dispirit.

Antonyms

2. encourage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for undaunting

daunt

verb (tr; often passive)
  1. to intimidate
  2. to dishearten
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Derived Formsdaunter, noun

Word Origin

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for undaunting

adj.

1786, "not quailing" [OED], from un- (1) "not" + present participle of daunt.

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daunt

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper