Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Defeat

Defeat , transitive verb

[From French défait, Old French desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, Old French desfaire, to undo; Latin dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and compare Disfashion.]

1.
To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obsolete]
His unkindness may defeat my life. — Shakespeare
2.
To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes. — Tillotson
The escheators... defeated the right heir of his succession. — Hallam
In one instance he defeated his own purpose. — A. W. Ward
3.
To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
4.
To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.
Sharp reasons to defeat the law. — Shakespeare

Defeat , noun

[Compare French défaite, from défaire. See Defeat, v.]

1.
An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obsolete]
Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. — Shakespeare
2.
Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
3.
An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.