defeat

Where does the word "defeat" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin disfacere, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Defeat’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: disfacere meant “to undo, to destroy.” To undo, to destroy, from dis- (apart) and facere (to make). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as desfait. Carried into French for an undoing, especially of an army in battle. It reached English by 1400s as defeat. Settled as the English word for overcoming an opponent in a contest. Today, defeat means to overcome or beat someone in a battle, contest, or conflict.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · medieval disfacere "to undo, to destroy", to undo, to destroy, from dis- (apart) and facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval desfait "an undoing, a rout", carried into French for an undoing, especially of an army in battle.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s defeat "to overcome an opponent in a contest or battle", settled as the English word for overcoming an opponent in a contest.