Nearby Words

daunt

[dawnt, dahnt] Example Sentences Origin

daunt

[dawnt, dahnt]
verb (used with object)
1.
to overcome with fear; intimidate: to daunt one's adversaries.
2.
to lessen the courage of; dishearten: Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English da(u)nten < Anglo-French da(u)nter, Old French danter, alteration of donter (probably by influence of dangier power, authority; see danger) < Latin domitāre to tame, derivative of domitus, past participle of domāre to tame

daunt·ing·ly, adverb
daunt·ing·ness, noun
un·daunt·ing, adjective


1. overawe, subdue, dismay, frighten. 2. discourage, dispirit.


2. encourage.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Daunt is a GRE word you need to know.
So is mesmerize. Does it mean:
deliberately faithless
to spellbind or fascinate; to compel by fascination
Example Sentences
  • And the old performance conventions are enough to daunt even the boldest of today's interpreters and impresarios.
  • Previous failures, however, do not daunt the latest contender for the prize.
  • The author writes of experiences that would daunt many.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
daunt (dɔːnt)
 
vb
1.  to intimidate
2.  to dishearten
 
[C13: from Old French danter, changed from donter to conquer, from Latin domitāre to tame]
 
'daunter
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

daunt
c.1300, from O.Fr. danter, var. of donter, from L. domitare, freq. of domare "to tame" (see tame). Originally "to vanquish;" sense of "to intimidate" is from late 15c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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