/daunt/synonyms

/daunt/

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation: dɔːnt.

-) 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.

-) Preterite tense, preterite participle: daunted; present participle: daunting.

-) Transitively: -) 1. Obsolete acceptation: to tame (a wild animal).

-) 2. Obsolete acceptation: to subdue or vanquish (a person), as if by taming a wild animal.

-) 3. -) a. (The subject: a person or another animal) to prevail over (someone), by making him either fear or despond; to reduce to such a state as to become intimidated or dissuaded from doing something: to cause to quail. -) b. (The subject: a thing) to reduce (an animated being) to such a state as to become intimidated or dissuaded from doing something: to cause to quail.

-) Antonyms of “daunt”: to exhort, encourage, incite, stimulate.

-) Synonyms for “daunt”: discourage, dismay, quail, intimidate, awe, cowardize, frighten, dispirit, dishearten

-) Translation: 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.

R. Kerr… Voyages… 1824

… you must not be daunted at a few difficulties, or at a little exertion.

Disraeli… Vivian Grey… 1826

It was a situation that less daunted than delighted him.

Bulwer-Lytton… Alice… 1838

“His humour will not daunt me,” said Allan. “I am resolved to see him.”

Pierce Egan… Robin Hood and Little John 1840

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.

Dickens… Barnaby… 1841

… do not leave me to-night; this strange place daunts me.

Bulwer-Lytton… The Last of The Barons… 1843

… these [trees], 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.

Wilkes… Narrative of the United States… 1844

… the stillness of this spot almost daunted him.

Dickens… Martin Chuzzlewit… 1844

"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?"

Bulwer-Lytton… Harold… 1853

Mr. Peck said nothing to this, and Annie, somewhat daunted by his silence, proceeded.

Howells… Annie Kilburn… 1888

-) With the preposition “from” + 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.

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.

Galt… Lawrie Todd 1830

No critic would have daunted me from the writing of the pieces.

Leader Scott… The life … 1887

The sight of Cole’s division behind Lumley’s weak squadrons no doubt daunted him from any employment of his cavalry.

J. Fortescue… A history… 1899

-) With the preposition “into” + 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?

Lytton… Zanoni… 1842

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 Yonge… A Chaplet of Pearls… 1868

“What is the cause of this?” he [Coronado] demanded, hoping to daunt her [Clara] into submission.

John De Forest… Overland… 1871

-) 4. (Metaphor: the subject being a thing) to discontinue or lessen (a state of mind) as if by subduing it.

… the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been somewhat daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot.

Scott… The Black Dwarf… 1816

With a perseverance which nothing could daunt, Cortes made an examination of the surrounding country.

Prescott… Conquest of Mexico… 1843

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… 1854

-) English words derived from Latin domare: domitable, dompt, dompting, dompter, indomitable, indomitability, indomitableness, indomitably.

-) English words derived from “daunt”: undaunted, undauntedly, undauntedness, undaunting, undauntable.