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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Frustrate

Frŭs'trāte, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. FRUSTRATED; p. pr. & vb. n. FRUSTRATING.] [Lat. frustrare, frustra-ri, frustratum, from frustra; Pr., Sp., & Pg. frustrar, It. frustrare, Fr. frustrer. See supra.]

Sense 1. To bring to nothing; to prevent from attaining a purpose; to disappoint; to defeat; to baffle; as, his enemy was frustrated; to frustrate a plan, design, or attempt; to frustrate the will or purpose.

Shall the adversary thus obtain His end and frustrate thine? Milton.

Sense 2. To make null; to nullify; to render invalid or of no effect; as, to frustrate a conveyance or deed.

Synonyms—To baffle; defeat; disappoint; balk. See BAFFLE.

Früs'trate, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. frustratus, p. p. of frustrari. See supra.] Vain; ineffectual; useless; unprofitable, null; void; nugatory; of no effect. “Our frustrate search.” Shak.