checkmate (chekmat)

chekmat, Shal noon housebonde seyn to me " chek mat." Chaucer , Troilus, ii. 754. Therwith Fortune seyde chek here, And mate in the myd point of the chekkere. Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 658. Hence-2. Figuratively, defeat; overthrow. Love they him called that gave me checkmate, But better mought they have behote him Hate. Spenser, Shep. Cal., December. checkmate (chek'māt), v. t.; pret. and pp. checkmated , ppr. checkmating . [ che , to put in check (an opponent's king), so that he cannot be released. See checkmate , n., 1.-2. Figuratively, to defeat; thwart; frustrate; baffle. 'Tis not your active wit or language, Nor your grave politic wisdoms, lords, shall dare To check - mate and control my just commands. Ford, Lover's Melancholy, iv. 3.