checkmate

checkmate
/chek"mayt'/, n., v., checkmated, checkmating, interj.
n.
1. Also called mate. Chess.
a. an act or instance of maneuvering the opponent's king into a check from which it cannot escape, thus bringing the game to a victorious conclusion.
b. the position of the pieces when a king is checkmated.
2. a complete check; defeat: His efforts to escape met with a checkmate.
v.t.
3. Chess. to maneuver (an opponent's king) into a check from which it cannot escape; mate.
4. to check completely; defeat: Napoleon was checkmated at Waterloo.
5. Chess. (used by a player to announce that he or she has put the opponent's king into inextricable check.)
[1300-50; ME chek mat(e) < MF escec mat < Ar shah mat < Pers: lit., the king (is) checked, nonplussed]

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Universalium. 2010.

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