conquest

Everyday

1. Conquest is taking control of a country, city or people by force, usually in a war. tree →
2. A conquest is a place or land that has been taken this way. tree →
3. Conquest can mean beating a very hard challenge, like the conquest of a mountain or of a disease. tree →
4. (informal, old-fashioned) A conquest can be a person someone has won the love of, said in a boastful way. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons you meet the Norman Conquest of England, the Roman conquest of Britain and the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and Incas; lessons ask why people conquered others and what happened to the conquered. In science and adventure stories «the conquest of space» or «the conquest of Everest» means a great achievement. Phrases: the Norman Conquest, conquest of, wars of conquest, a new conquest.

Examples

• The Norman Conquest changed the English language for ever. tree →
• The Romans began their conquest of Britain with a large army. tree →
• Spain's conquest of the Aztec Empire brought terrible suffering. tree →
• Climbing Everest was the greatest conquest of his life. tree →
• The conquest of smallpox is one of medicine's big wins. tree →
• The king boasted about his new conquest. tree →
• The conquest of space started with tiny satellites. tree →
• Many people died during the conquest. tree →
• They are possibly a relic of the days of Aryan conquest, when the fair-skinned, fair-haired Aryan conquered the swarthier aboriginals. tree →

Note

Noun from the verb «conquer» (to take by force, or to beat a problem). Pronounced «KONG-kwest». The person who conquers is a «conqueror»; William the Conqueror led the Norman Conquest. Capital C in «the Norman Conquest» because it is the name of an event. Do not mix up «conquest» (the act) and «conquer» (the verb): «They conquered the land» but «The conquest of the land».