† checkmateadj.
Obsolete.
In the position of a chess-player to whom checkmate has been given, and who is therefore defeated; beaten, undone.
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the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > [adjective]
cravena1225
matec1225
to yield oneself creanta1250
confounded1362
checkmate?c1370
convictc1430
superatec1460
beaten1550
frustrate1588
convicteda1616
skinned1897
?c1370 Robt. Cicyle 54 With a draght he was checkmate.
c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 2926 He cryed ‘alas’! and felle alle chekmate.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iv. f. 57v He is conuict and maid chakmeit.
a1605 A. Montgomerie Against Dispair in Misc. Poems 12 Nou thou are chekmait.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
checkmatev.
/ˈtʃɛkˈmeɪt/ 1. Chess (transitive). To give checkmate to: see checkmate n. 1. (Now, commonly, to mate; see mate v.2)
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society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [verb (transitive)] > mate
to give (the) matec1330
matec1330
checkmate1789
1789 R. Twiss Chess II. 165 A pawn which was hidden behind a castle checkmated me without mercy.
1847 H. Staunton Chess-player's Handbk. 39 He must checkmate his adversary in fifty moves on each side at most.
1856 R. Whately Bacon's Ess. (ed. 2) xxii. Annot. 215 He is like a chess-player who takes several pawns, but is checkmated.
2. transferred. To arrest or defeat utterly, discomfit. In modern use, often: to defeat or frustrate the ‘game’ or scheme of (any one) by a counter-movement.
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the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] > bring to an impasse
checkmatea1400
stalec1470
set1577
stallc1591
embog1602
nonplus1605
stalemate1765
stump1807
pound1827
to stick up1853
snooker1889
stymie1902
biff1915
dead-end1921
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > defeat completely or do for
overthrowc1375
checkmatea1400
to bring or put to (or unto) utterance1430
distrussc1430
crusha1599
panga1600
to fetch off1600
finish1611
settle?1611
feague1668
rout1676
spiflicate1749
bowl1793
to settle a person's hash1795
dish1798
smash1813
to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835
thunder-smite1875
scuppera1918
to put the bee on1918
stonker1919
to wrap up1922
root1944
banjax1956
marmalize1966
a1400 Octouian 1746 There was many an hethen hounde, that they chekmatyde [So MS. clearly].
a1529 J. Skelton Vppon Deedmans Hed 30 Oure days be datyd To be chekmatyd With drawttys of deth.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (x. 13) He is despitefully pulled out of his throne, and after a sort checkmated.
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xxxiv. 424 As an impetuous or raging torrent..shockes and checke-mates what ere it meeteth withall.
1649 A. Ascham Bounds Publique Obed. 58 At this distance he [sc. Jas. I] contrived how to extinguish or check that mate [sc. the Kirk] there.]
1868 E. Edwards Life Sir W. Ralegh I. xxvi. 665 Some..had their own reasons for checkmating the Spaniards in relation to Ralegh, if they could.
1882 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. II. 10 To checkmate their dangerous rival instantly.
1884 Manch. Examiner 2 May 4/7 It will need a stringent clause to checkmate the ingenuity of the local taxmasters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
checkmateint.n.
/ˈtʃɛkˈmeɪt/ A. int.
a. Exclamation at chess by a player on putting his adversary's King into inextricable check, a move by which the game is won; originally meaning ‘(your) King is dead’. (Now commonly mate adj.2)
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society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [interjection] > check or checkmate
checkc1330
checkmatec1390
matec1450
c1390 Roberd of Cisyle (Vernon) (1930) 184 He wende, in none wyse þat God Almihti couþe deuyse Him to bringe to lower stat; Wiþ o drauht he was chekmat!
1413 J. Lydgate Pilgr. of Sowle (1859) i. xxii. 27 A shame hath he that at the cheker pleyeth, Whan that a pown seyith to the kyng, chekmate!
1787 R. Twiss Chess I. 128 The Colonel always took care to be on his feet, to fly to the farthest corner of the room, when he said, ‘check-mate, my Lord!’
b. transf. to say checkmate (to any one): to say ‘you are beaten’, ‘your game is up’; to beat in a contest; to defeat, undo.
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat
shendc893
overwinOE
overheaveOE
mate?c1225
to say checkmatea1346
vanquishc1366
stightlea1375
outrayc1390
to put undera1393
forbeat1393
to shave (a person's) beardc1412
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
adawc1440
supprisec1440
to knock downc1450
to put to the worsta1475
waurc1475
convanquish1483
to put out1485
trima1529
convince1548
foil1548
whip1571
evict1596
superate1598
reduce1605
convict1607
defail1608
cast1610
banga1616
evince1620
worst1646
conquer1655
cuffa1657
trounce1657
to ride down1670
outdo1677
routa1704
lurcha1716
fling1790
bowl1793
lick1800
beat1801
mill1810
to row (someone) up Salt River1828
defeat1830
sack1830
skunk1832
whop1836
pip1838
throw1850
to clean out1858
take1864
wallop1865
to sock it to1877
whack1877
to clean up1888
to beat out1893
to see off1919
to lower the boom on1920
tonk1926
clobber1944
ace1950
to run into the ground1955
a1346 in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1859) I. 29 In proprio climat tibi dicet aper cito chekmat.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 752 Shal nonne husbond sey to me ‘chek mate’.
c1430 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes Prol. 26 Princes, for they be not stable, Fortune full oft..saith to them ‘Checkmate’.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xiv. sig. e.v Whan dethe with his darte, sayth to vs chekemate.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 40 A Milkesoppe, taunted and retaunted, with check and checkemate.
B. n.† 2. Apparently, from erroneous analysis of the preceding phrase, checkmate occurs as† a. Chess. Obsolete. rare.† b. Of persons: An equal in a contest, a rival, match; an equal in power or rank; as if ‘a mate that checks’; also variously corrupted as Jack mate, chek-meat, etc. Obsolete.
1.
a. This exclamation taken as a name for itself, and for the move which puts the King into inextricable check. to give checkmate: to make or effect this conclusive move. (Also mate adj.2)
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the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > [noun] > a check or rebuff > complete check or impasse
checkmatec1440
blank1542
nonplus1582
noncome1600
choke1674
dead lock1781
impasse1851
no go1870
standoff1876
gridlock1981
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > check or checkmate
matec1330
mating?a1400
checkc1426
checkmatec1440
scholar's mate1614
fool's mate1618
scholar's check1674
perpetual check1750
smothered mate1804
sui-mate1846
selfmate1848
perpetual1966
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [verb (intransitive)] > mate
to give checkmate1562
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 21 After chec fore þe roke, ware fore þe mate.]
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) i. xxi. 71 When he takith [no] kepe of God, and hathe no meyne, than is hit to þe man chekmate.
1562 tr. Damiano da Odemira Pleasaunt Playe of Cheasts sig. Cvj If his Bishoppe take thyne, thou shalt geue checke and mate, setting thy Queene in the fourth house of his Kings Bishoppe.
1564 W. Bullein Dialogue against Fever Pestilence f. 77 I did se..a Parate, geue one of their gentle women, a checke mate a Chesse.
1656 F. Beale tr. G. Greco Royall Game Chesse-play 11 The maine designe of the game..is as suddenly as can be to give check mate.
?1870 F. Hardy & J. R. Ware Mod. Hoyle 42 When a checkmate is obtained, the game is at an end.
?1870 F. Hardy & J. R. Ware Mod. Hoyle 45 The player who effects checkmate wins the game.
1875 P. G. Hamerton Intellect. Life (ed. 2) x. v. 362 Bright ideas about checkmates occur only to persons who have studied chess.
b. figurative and transferred.
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > [noun] > ultimate success or victory > complete
checkmate1520
grand slam1905
game, set, and match1968
1520 R. Whittington Uulgaria sig. H.ijv He gaf hym..a dosen chek mates [L. sanna, a jeer] or they had doone.
a1529 J. Skelton Howe Douty Duke of Albany in Wks. (1568) sig. G Our mayster shall you brynge..to lowe estate And mate you with chek mate.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 540 If he then were ouercome, the game had for the Englishemen bene clerely gotten, and to the Frenchmen, a perpetuall checkmate.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Dec. 53 Loue they him called, that gaue me checkmate.
1652 L. S. Natures Dowrie x. 20 To give a check-mate to Religion.
a1845 T. Hood Compass xv His fate, Check-mate.
c. phr. to play checkmate with.
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the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > meet or encounter adversely > match in opposition
to play checkmate withc1500
countermate1602
c1500 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. III. 260 A noble clarke of late..Hath played with them chekmate, Theyr courage to abate.
a1529 J. Skelton Why come ye nat to Courte (?1545) 585 And he wyll play checke mate With riall maieste, Counte him selfe as good as he.
1572 G. Gascoigne Hundred Flowers in Wks. (1587) 90 When deadly hate Did play checke mate With me poore pawne.
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society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun]
chequer1297
chessc1325
chess-playingc1400
chess-play1481
chests1561
cestes1578
obessea1629
checkmatea1661
chess-game1834
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 223 The name of the game, checkmate, is derived..from the Hebrew.
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society > society and the community > social class > [noun] > one's social equal(s)
fellowc1225
compeera1400
evenhead?a1400
checkmate?1504
comparec1540
mate1563
collateral1623
assessor1667
grade1827
Jones1879
peer1940
?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. cc.iiv She her selfe helde her estate In a gloryous chaumbre without chekmate.
?1529 Proper Dyaloge Gentillman & Husbandman sig. B iijv They resorte to lordes and great estates With whom they are daily checke mates.
1566 J. Knox Hist. Reformation in Wks. (1846) I. 12 Thou should not mack thy self chek-meat to the King.
1577 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture (new ed.) sig. B.vii Then will all your Elders thinke, you be with him Iack mate.
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 18/2 All that proudly would play the checkemates against him.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxiv. iii. 854 Untill at length they be checkmates [L. exaequari] with their husbands.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 156 The Clergy..in every Nation..grew checkmate [with the Sovereign]; and..had..a principall part of the strength.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
> as lemmas
checkmate
1. Chess. The act of threatening the King; the position of the King when he is exposed to the attack of one of the opponent's men; if there is no escape from check, it is checkmate and the game is over.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > check or checkmate
matec1330
mating?a1400
checkc1426
checkmatec1440
scholar's mate1614
fool's mate1618
scholar's check1674
perpetual check1750
smothered mate1804
sui-mate1846
selfmate1848
perpetual1966
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 21 After chec fore þe roke, ware fore þe mate.
1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Donner vn eschec, to giue a check.
1592 Greenes Groats-worth of Witte sig. D3 Chesse..is a game, said she, that the first daunger is but a checke, the worst, the giuing of a mate.
1614 A. Saul Famous Game Chesse-play To Rdr. sig. A5 None of the Kings can take a man that standeth on a guard, 'Twere checke at once if he doe so.
1656 F. Beale tr. G. Greco Royall Game Chesse-play 5 The Knight's..check, because it cannot be covered, the King must either remove out of check, or cause him to be taken..[else] it is Check mate.
1848 H. Staunton Chess-player's Handbk. 20 When the Piece moved does not itself give check, but unmasks another which does, it is called a discovered check.
?1870 F. Hardy & J. R. Ware Mod. Hoyle 42 When your King is attacked by any piece he is said to be in check..you must then put your King out of check by..interposing one of your own men between the checking piece and your King, thus ‘covering’ check, as it is termed.
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adj.?c1370
v.a1400
int.n.a1346as lemmas