Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - conquer

 verb  (~ed; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English, to acquire, ~, from Anglo-French ~re, from Vulgar Latin *conquaerere, alteration of Latin conquirere to search for, collect, from com- + quaerere to ask, search  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1. to gain or acquire by force of arms ; subjugate ~ territory  2. to overcome by force of arms ; vanquish ~ed the enemy  3. to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition ~ed the mountain  4. to overcome by mental or moral power ; surmount ~ed her fear  intransitive verb to be victorious  • ~or noun Synonyms:  ~, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy. ~ implies gaining mastery of Caesar ~ed Gaul. vanquish implies a complete overpowering vanquished the enemy and ended the war. defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas. subdue implies a defeating and suppression subdued the native tribes after years of fighting. reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender the city was reduced after a month-long siege. overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks. overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power violently overthrew the old regime.