Daunt
verb
Etymology: from Old French danter (variant of donter), from Latin domitare (= to tame), frequentative of domare (= to tame, subdue). It is etymologically identical with French dompter.
Third-person singular simple present: she/he daunts
Indicative past, past participle: daunted
Present participle: daunting.
Transitively:
First definition: to tame (a wild animal)
Postdefinition: it is an obsolete acceptation
Second definition: to subdue or vanquish (a person), as if by taming a wild animal
Postdefinition: it is an obsolete acceptation
Third definition: a. (the subject being an animated being) to prevail over (an animated being), by making him either fear or despond; this is; to reduce to such a state as to become intimidated or dissuaded from beginning something: to cause to quail. b. (the subject being a thing) to reduce (an animated being) to such a state as to become intimidated or dissuaded from beginning something: to cause to quail.
Postdefinition: it is the prevalent acceptation
Antonyms: to exhort, encourage, incite, stimulate
Synonyms: to discourage, dismay, quail, intimidate, awe, cowardize, frighten, dispirit, dishearten
It may be approximately translated by intimidar, in Spanish; scoraggiare, in Italian; décourager, in French.
You would hardly believe how much the Hollanders have already daunted the Portuguese and Spaniards in these parts, especially in the Moluccas, where they daily encroach on the Spaniards, who are unable to withstand them, and are even in fear that they may shortly deprive them of the Philippine islands. Robert Kerr (A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels)
Gabriel, who was a bold man and not easily daunted, made straight to the spot, urging on his stout little horse as if for life or death. Charles Dickens (Barnaby Rudge)
"Who art thou?" said William, if not daunted at least amazed. "Methinks I have seen thy face before; thou art not Harold's wife or sister?" Edward Bulwer-Lytton (Harold)
[…] the stillness of this spot almost daunted him. Charles Dickens (Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit)
[…] do not leave me to-night; this strange place daunts me. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (The Last of The Barons)
It was a situation that less daunted than delighted him. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (Alice, or The Mysteries)
She lived, Peggotty had told him, in Dover, and that was seventy miles away; but the distance did not daunt him. Charles Dickens and Hallie Erminie Rives (Tales from Dickens)
Ermold was nothing daunted by the disadvantage under which he laboured. Philip Augustus
“His humour will not daunt me,” said Allan. “I am resolved to see him.” Pierce Egan (Robin Hood and Little John)
Mr. Peck said nothing to this, and Annie, somewhat daunted by his silence, proceeded. William Dean Howells (Annie Kilburn)
They had observed for a few days a beautiful yellow flowering tree, that was very conspicuous in the forest. Believing that it could be easily come at, they made the attempt to reach it, but without success, finding it, instead of being low, a high and inaccessible tree. They then directed their steps to others, but were disappointed again. Determined not to be foiled in their pursuit, they again went off in search of others in sight; these, to their surprise, were on the opposite side of a river. Nothing daunted, Mr. Brackenridge crossed it, though deep, and endeavoured to scale the tree. Charles Wilkes (Narrative of the United States…)
"Art thou in the habit of meeting one Englishman who yields his goods without a blow to another?" retorted Marmaduke. "Go to! thy club does not daunt me." Edward Bulwer-Lytton (The Last of The Barons)
'"What now!" replied the baron, nothing daunted by his hollow voice and lustreless eyes. Charles Dickens (The Life And Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby)
***Reflexively:
[…] it was in the calm days that a man could daunt himself with listening –not a Highlandman only, as I several times experimented on myself, so many still, hollow noises haunted and reverberated in the porches of the rock. Robert Louis Stevenson (Catriona)
***With the preposition from, before a noun or a gerund (to signify the intended thing from which the daunted is discouraged). In French: décourager quelqu’un de quelque chose; in Italian; scoraggiare qualcuno da qualcosa.
The sight of Cole’s division behind Lumley’s weak squadrons no doubt daunted him from any employment of his cavalry. John William Fortescue (A history of the British army)
No critic would have daunted me from the writing of the pieces. Leader Scott (The life of William Barnes)
[…] nothing on earth daunted him from his mission. A. Alankrita (Nurture Self Confidence to Achieve Greatness)
I was not to be daunted from my purpose by the fears of my companions: I was only anxious to mount upon the top of the wall, regardless of all consequences. John Galt (Lawrie Todd)
[…] daunted by the shrieks and tumult, the crowd began to disperse. Charles Dickens (Barnaby Rudge)
[…] you must not be daunted at a few difficulties, or at a little exertion. Benjamin Disraeli (Vivian Grey)
***With the preposition into, before a noun or a gerund designative of what results from intimidation or despondency:
[…] do you imagine that the man who voluntarily offers himself to death will be daunted into uttering one syllable at your Bar against his will? Edward Bulwer Lytton (Zanoni)
That youthful gravity and resolution, with the mixture of respect and protection, imposed as usual upon her passionate nature, and daunted her into meekly riding beside Philip without a word. Charlotte M. Yonge (A Chaplet of Pearls)
“What is the cause of this?” he [Coronado] demanded, hoping to daunt her [Clara] into submission. John William De Forest (Overland)
[A look] meant to daunt her [Meg] into silence. Lael S. James (My Lady Wayward)
These resolute fellows, relying on the natural strength of their situation, and the apparent torpor of their enemies, had hopes of being able to daunt them into an acquiescence with favourable terms of surrender. The last of Froberg’s Regiment, in The New monthly magazine
Fourth definition: (Metaphorically: the subject being a thing) to discontinue or lessen (a state of mind) as if by subduing it
Miss P-- remained; and Madame de la Fîte joined us; and, not long after, Mr. Turbulent. He was in a humour that nothing could daunt; he began the warmest reproaches that I had left the room, and for my little notice of him while in it. France Burney (Diary and letters)
With a perseverance which nothing could daunt, Cortes made an examination of the surrounding country. William H. Prescott (History of the conquest of Mexico)
The great feature in his character was constancy of purpose; a constancy not to be daunted by danger, nor baffled by disappointment, nor wearied out by impediments and delays. William H. Prescott (History of the conquest of Mexico)
[…] the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been somewhat daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot. Walter Scott (The Black Dwarf)
Other English vocables derived from, or compounded with one of the radicals of Latin domare: domitable, dompt, dompting, dompter, indomitable, indomitability, indomitableness, indomitably
Other English vocables derived from daunt: undaunted, undauntedly, undauntedness, undaunting, undauntable
