Conquest
/ˈkɒŋ.kwɛst/noun
The act of defeating and taking control of a place or people by force.
Did you know?Conquest entered English through Old French after Latin conquirere meant “to seek for” and later “to gain by effort,” showing how a word for pursuit hardened into domination.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷes-
“to seek, ask, or desire”
Latin
Latin
conquirere
“to seek out, collect, or gain by search”
Late Latin
Latin
conquaestus
“acquired, won, or gained”
Old French
Old French
conqueste
“a winning, acquisition, or victory”
Middle English
English
conquest
“the act of winning or subduing by force”
Modern English
English
conquest
“the act of defeating and taking control of a place or people by force”
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