conquer

verb

Etymology: From Middle English conqueren, from Old French conquerre, from Late Latin conquaerere (“to knock, strike; to search for, procure”), from Latin con- + quaerere (“to seek, acquire”). Displaced native Old English oferwinnan.

1. To defeat in combat; to subjugate.

   “I lay in the desert beyond all cities and sounds, and above me flowed the River of Silence through the sky; and on the desert’s edge night fought against the Sun, and suddenly conquered.”

2. To acquire by force of arms, win in war; to become ruler of; to subjugate.

   “In 1453, the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople.”

   “I haue beene wooed, as I intreat thee now, / Euen by the ſterne, and direfull God of warre, / VVhoſe ſinowie necke in battel nere did bow, / VVho conquers where he comes in euery iarre; […]”

3. To overcome an abstract obstacle.

   “Today I conquered my fear of flying by finally boarding a plane.”

   “to conquer difficulties or temptations”

4. To gain, win, or obtain by effort.

   “to conquer freedom; to conquer a peace”