Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
The act or process of conquering, or acquiring by force; the act of overcoming or subduing opposition by force, whether physical or moral; subjection; subjugation; victory.
The act of gaining or regaining by successful struggle; as, the conquest of liberty or peace.
The acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance; acquisition.
That which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or moral.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter. About
hEnglish - advanced version
\con"quest\ (?), n. [of. conquest, conqueste, f. conquête, ll. conquistum, conquista, prop. p. p. from l. conquirere. see conquer.]
1. the act or process of conquering, or acquiring by force; the act of overcoming or subduing opposition by force, whether physical or moral; subjection; subjugation; victory. in joys of conquest he resigns his breath. three years sufficed for the conquest of the country.
2. that which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or moral. wherefore rejoice? what conquest brings he home?
3. (feudal law) the acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance; acquisition.
4. the act of gaining or regaining by successful struggle; as, the conquest of liberty or peace.
The 'Lectric Law Library
Feudal Law. This term was used by the feudists to signify purchase.
International Law. The acquisition of the sovereignty of a country by force of arms, exercised by an independent power which reduces the vanquished to the submission of its empire.
It is a general rule that where conquered countries have laws of their own, these laws remain in force after the conquest, until they are abrogated, unless they are contrary to our religion, or enact any malum in se. In all such cases the laws of the conquering country prevail; for it is not to be presumed that laws opposed to religion or sound morals could be sanctioned.
The conquest and military occupation of a part of the territory of the United States by a public enemy renders such conquered territory, during such occupation, a foreign country with respect to the revenue laws of the United States. The people of a conquered territory change their allegiance, but by the modern practice, their relations to each other and their rights of property remain the same.
Conquest does not, per se, give the conqueror plenum dominium et utile, but a temporary right of possession and government.
The right which the English government claimed over the territory now composing the United States was not founded on conquest, but discovery.
This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.
Courtesy of the 'Lectric Law Library