Sharp reasons to defeat the law.
Shak.
Syn. -- To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
De*feat", n. [Cf. F. défaite, fr. défaire. See Defeat, v.] 1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.]
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damned defeat was made.
Shak.
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.
De*fea"ture (?; 135), n. [OF. desfaiture a killing, disguising, prop., an undoing. See Defeat, and cf. Disfeature.] 1. Overthrow; defeat. [Obs.] "Nothing but loss in their defeature." Beau. & Fl.