conquest
    n 1: the act of conquering [syn: conquest, conquering,
         subjection, subjugation]
    2: success in mastering something difficult; "the conquest of
       space"
    3: an act of winning the love or sexual favor of someone [syn:
       seduction, conquest]

Conquest \Con"quest\, n. [OF. conquest, conqueste, F.
   conqu[^e]te, 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.
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            In joys of conquest he resigns his breath.
                                                  --Addison.
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            Three years sufficed for the conquest of the
            country.                              --Prescott.
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   2. That which is conquered; possession gained by force,
      physical or moral.
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            Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?
                                                  --Shak.
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   3. (Feudal Law) The acquiring of property by other means than
      by inheritance; acquisition. --Blackstone.
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   4. The act of gaining or regaining by successful struggle;
      as, the conquest of liberty or peace.
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   The Conquest (Eng. Hist.), the subjugation of England by
      William of Normandy in 1066. The Norman Conquest.

   Syn: Victory; triumph; mastery; reduction; subjugation;
        subjection.
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CONQUEST, feudal law. This term was used by the feudists to signify 
purchase. 

CONQUEST, 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. 
     2. 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. 1 Story, Const. Sec. 150, and the cases there cited. 
     3. 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. 4 Wheat. R. 246; 2 Gallis. R. 486. 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. 7 Pet. R. 86. 
     4. Conquest does not, per se, give the conqueror plenum dominium et 
utile, but a temporary right of possession and government. 2 Gallis. R. 486; 
3 Wash. C. C. R. 101. See 8 Wheat. R. 591; 2 Bay, R. 229; 2 Dall. R. 1; 12 
Pet. 410. 
     5. The right which the English government claimed over the territory 
now composing the United States, was not founded on conquest, but discovery. 
Id. Sec. 152, et seq.