Defeated an enemy or took control of a place by military force, or overcame a difficulty or fear.
From Old French 'conquerre,' derived from Latin 'conquirere' meaning 'to acquire' or 'to search out thoroughly.' The 'con-' prefix intensifies, and 'quir-' relates to seeking or obtaining. William the Conqueror brought this word into English prominence after 1066.
The word literally means 'to search out and acquire,' which is a beautiful way to describe what conquerors actually did—they methodically sought out new territories and people to rule. Every time someone 'conquers' their fear of public speaking, they're using the same word kings used for empire-building!
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