Literary notes about Defeated (AI summary)
The term "defeated" runs a versatile thread through literature, frequently marking both tangible military downfalls and more symbolic vanquishments. In historical narratives, it often signals the conclusive end of a battle or campaign—Roman generals meeting their fate in Dalmatia ([1]) or prominent conflicts where commanders and entire armies were overpowered ([2], [3], [4]). At the same time, creative works broaden its application, using "defeated" to denote the failure of ideas or personal struggle, whether it is an author’s creative purpose being undermined ([5], [6]), or a figurative struggle against overwhelming circumstances ([7], [8]). This dual use enriches the word's impact, linking the physical collapse of armies to the more abstract surrender of ambition or will.
- But in the interval of suspense, two Roman generals, who had entered the province of Dalmatia, were defeated and slain by the Gothic troops.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - At Fidenae they conquered the Romans, and slew two thousand; but they were defeated by Romulus, with a loss of eight thousand men.
— from Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1 (of 4) by Plutarch - [ The Cimbri were German tribes on the Elbe, who invaded Italy A.U.C. 640, and were defeated by Metellus.]
— from The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete by Suetonius - In a battle near Cairo his army was completely defeated and he himself taken prisoner, dying a few days afterwards either of his wounds or by poison.
— from The New Gresham Encyclopedia. A to Amide by Various - He could not understand, and time and again, in despair, defeated and depressed, he returned to his article.
— from Martin Eden by Jack London - The writer has defeated his own purpose.
— from The Elements of Style by William Strunk - O.M. Have you ever found one that defeated the rule? Y.M.
— from What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain - In this we are necessarily defeated, since the actual Bismarck is unknown to us.
— from The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
