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Conquer

Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:47 am
by scw1217
I was interested in the Latin source of this word, which seems to indicated "to search/ask thoroughly".

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conqueror
con·quer

Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): con·quered; con·quer·ing

Etymology: Middle English, to acquire, conquer, from Anglo-French conquerre, from Vulgar Latin *conquaerere, alteration of Latin conquirere to search for, collect, from com- + quaerere to ask, search

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to gain or acquire by force of arms : subjugate <conquer territory> 2 : to overcome by force of arms : vanquish <conquered the enemy> 3 : to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition <conquered the mountain> 4 : to overcome by mental or moral power : surmount <conquered her fear> intransitive verb : to be victorious

— con·quer·or noun

synonyms: conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy. conquer implies gaining mastery of <Caesar conquered Gaul>. vanquish implies a complete overpowering <vanquished the enemy and ended the war>. defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals <the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas>. subdue implies a defeating and suppression <subdued the native tribes after years of fighting>. reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender <the city was reduced after a month-long siege>. overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle <overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks>. overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power <violently overthrew the old regime>.
Main Entry:com-
Variant(s): or col- or con-
Function: prefix
Etymology:Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin, with, together, thoroughly — more at co-

: with : together : jointly —usually com- before b, p, or m<commingle>, col- before l<collinear>, and con- before other sounds <concentrate>

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 7:26 pm
by Slava
Interesting root for a common word. One wouldn't have thunk it, would one?
conquer
c.1200, from O.Fr. conquerre, from V.L. *conquærere (for L. conquirere ) "to search for, procure," from L. com- intensive prefix + quærere "to seek, acquire"