Middle English Dictionary Entry

venquishen v.
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Entry Info

Forms venquishen v. Also venquishe, venquis(e, venquisse, venqueshen, venqusche, venquwesse, venqwish(e, venqwis, vencushe, vencus(e, vencous, vencose, vencuȝchen, vencuȝshe, venguishen, vengise, vinquishe, vinqusche, wenquishin; p. venquished, etc. & venquishd, venquischt, ven(k)quist, venqwiste, vencust, venkuschede, venkusede; ppl. venquished, etc. & venquischt, i)venquist, venquiste, venqueste, venqwiste, vencust(e, vencoust, venkisched, venkischt, i)venkised, ivenkesched, venkest, ivenkessid, venkusched, venkust, venkkist, wenkist, iwenkused, whencused & (errors) venqueysheth, vencustis, vnquessht, vnquessed, enqueschid, nenquisched, rencused.
Etymology OF venquis-, venquies-, AF venqis-, etc., extended stems of OF veintre, vencre, venqre, AF venquer, venger, vengre, venkre, vincre; p.ppl. OF vencu(e)s, AF vencuz.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To achieve a military victory, triumph in battle or combat; (b) to defeat (a foe, an army, etc.) in battle or combat, triumph over, conquer; (c) to win (a battle, military contest, tournament, etc.); gain (the field).
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2.
(a) To achieve a moral or spiritual victory, prevail; (b) to defeat (a moral or spiritual foe, sin, etc.) in a spiritual struggle; do away with (duplicity, bad habits, etc.); overcome (temptation, etc.), subdue; (c) to win (a moral or spiritual battle); (d) to bring (sb.) to despair; also, destroy the faith of (sb.) [last quot.].
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3.
(a) To get the best of (sb.) in an argument; (b) to surpass (sb.); (c) to surpass (a people) in number, exceed; (d) to render (sth.) null, make ineffectual; also, destroy (virginity).
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