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Defeat

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There is a somewhat strange connection between de-feat and de-feature. Defeat is the French de-fait, un-made or un-done, Latin, de-factus (defectus, our “defect”); and feature is the Norman faiture, Latin factuʹra, the make-up, frame, or form. Hence old writers have used the worddefeat” to mean disfigure or spoil the form.

Defeat thy favour [face] with an usurped beard.”—Shakespeare: Othello, i. 3.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Dedlock (Sir Leicester)
Dee
Dee (Dr. John)
Dee Mills
Deer
Deerslayer
Dees (The)
Deev-Binder
Default
Defeat
Defeat
Defender of the Faith
Deficit (Madame)
Degenerate
Dei Gratia
Dei Judicium (Latin)
Deianira
Deiphobus
Deities
Déjeuner à la Fourchette (French)
Delaware