defeat

Law an annulment

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Defeat

Appomattox Courthouse

scene of Lee’s surrender to Grant (1865). [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 22]

Armada, Spanish

defeat by English fleet marked Spain’s decline and England’s rise as a world power (1588). [Eur. Hist.: EB, 1: 521–522]

Austerlitz

defeat of Austro-Russian coalition by Napoleon (1805). [Fr. Hist.: Harbottle Battles, 23–24]

Bataan

Philippine peninsula where U.S. troops surrendered to Japanese (1942). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 245]

Battle of the Boyne

sealed Ireland’s fate as England’s vassal state (1690). [Br. Hist.: Harbottle Battles, 39]

Battle of the Bulge

final, futile German WWII offensive (1944–1945). [Eur. Hist.: Hitler, 1148–1153, 1154–1155]

Caudine Forks

mountain pass where Romans were humiliatingly defeated by the Samnites. [Rom. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 186]

Culloden

consolidated English supremacy; broke clan system (1746). [Br. Hist.: Harbottle Battles, 70]

Dien Bien Phu

Vietminh rout of French paved way for partition of Vietnam (1954). [Fr. Hist.: Van Doren, 541]

Gallipoli

poorly conceived and conducted battle ending in British disaster (1915). [Br. Hist.: Fuller, III, 240–261]

Little Bighorn

scene of General Ouster’s “last stand” (1876). [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 274]

Pearl Harbor

Japan’s surprise attack destroys U.S. fleet (1941). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2089]

Pyrrhic victory

a too costly victory; “Another such victory and we are lost.” [Rom. Hist.: “Asculum I” in Eggenburger, 30–31]

Salt River

up which losing political parties travel to oblivion. [Am. Slang: LLEI, I: 312]

Sedan

decisive German defeat of French (1870). [Fr. Hist.: Harbottle Battles, 225]

Stalingrad

German army succumbs to massive Soviet pincer movement (1942-1943). [Ger. Hist.: Fuller, III, 531–538]

Waterloo

British victory in Belgium signals end of Napoleon’s domination (1815). [Fr. Hist.: Harbottle Battles, 266]

white flag

a sign of surrender. [Western Folklore: Misc.]

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References in periodicals archive

First of all it would return the fighting spirit to everyone mired in defeatism right now.

On defeatism, division and diversity

"There is only one reason why they would do so - defeatism - stemming from a belief that they can't deliver a Yes vote for independence."

EX-SNP LEADER IN POLL ANGER; Salmond is 'defeatist'

However, we should also be watchful for the opportunities, and mindful of the risks of defeatism. Within the Western world, New Zealand's economy and financial system are relatively well placed to weather the adjustment."

NZ needs to be ready for recovery

"The international stand of silence and defeatism in dealing with Israeli atrocities (in Gaza) has no parallel," said a statement issued by the Council of Ministers following its weekly meeting chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

Kingdom denounces silence

"We want to challenge the pessimism and defeatism which says black and Asian people can't succeed here."

2050 BEFORE UK'S OWN OBAMA; TIME TO OPEN THE DOOR OF No 10?

This is no time for polarizing language--the issue is not one of "holding the line" versus "defeatism." Rather it should be about our national leaders making a strategic decision by carefully weighing our interests and responsibilities in the region and with respect to the Iraqi people against the costs in terms of military capabilities and national treasure.

The Drawdown Asymmetry

Her comments on her own narcissism, defeatism and pain are remarkable wake-up calls to health care professionals and those enduring horrific treatments and a complete refutation of the strange notion that cancer makes you sweeter and more spiritual.

Ordinary life; a memoir of illness

"Piebalgs put a very negative spin on things," admitted the Commission official, critical of the energy commissioner's defeatism following the Energy Council in early June.

OWNERSHIP UNBUNDLING : COMMISSION YET TO REPLY TO OWNERSHIP UNBUNDLERS

It would be folly at this stage to give in to defeatism and despair.

Don't bail, prevail

At the heart of this book is a powerful but more than slightly simplistic concept: companies that want to grow need to climb on a "blue train" of empowerment, enthusiasm and teamwork, and reject a "red train" of defensiveness, defeatism and stagnation.

Riding the Blue Train: A Leadership Plan for Explosive Growth

Robinson, a prodigious researcher, marshaled impressive evidence from field reports on how as the war dragged on, desertion, disaffection, and defeatism plagued southern ranks.

Bitter Fruits of Bondage: The Demise of Slavery and the Collapse of the Confederacy, 1861-1865

Keep an eye on the prize, Rumsfeld's pal Podhoretz urged, and apply new technology to the same tactics honed during "World War III," when "we as a nation persisted in spite of the inevitable setbacks and mistakes and the defeatism they generated."

Old propaganda and new: Bush is wrong to use the Cold War's covert tactics in the new twilight struggle