daunt

[dawnt, dahnt]

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.

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 for daunt

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

Antonyms for daunt

2. encourage.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for undaunting

daunt

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 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.

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.