different between conquer vs discourage

English

Alternative forms

• conquire (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English conqueren, from Old French conquerre, from Late Latin conquaerere (“to knock, strike; to search for, procure”), from Latin con- + quaerere (“to seek, acquire”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k??k?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k??k?/
• Hyphenation: con?quer
• Rhymes: -??k?(?)
• Homophone: conker

Verb

conquer (third-person singular simple present conquers, present participle conquering, simple past and past participle conquered)

1. To defeat in combat; to subjugate.
2. To acquire by force of arms, win in war; to become ruler of; to subjugate.
   • 1714, Alexander Pope, Imitation of Horace, Book II. Sat. 6

     We conquer'd France, but felt our captive's charms.
3. To overcome an abstract obstacle.
4. (dated) To gain, win, or obtain by effort.

Derived terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. Surface analysis dis- +? courage.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d?s?k???d??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /d?s?k??d??/
• Hyphenation: dis?cour?age

Verb

discourage (third-person singular simple present discourages, present participle discouraging, simple past and past participle discouraged) (transitive)

1. (transitive) To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.

   • Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

2. (transitive) To persuade somebody not to do (something).
   • 1854, Abraham Lincoln. Notes for a Law Lecture

     Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.

Synonyms

• becourage
• deter
• dissuade

Antonyms

• encourage

Translations

Noun

discourage (uncountable)

1. (rare) Lack of courage

Synonyms

• (lack of courage): cowardliness

Further reading

• discourage in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.