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Webster's New World College Dictionary » frustrate
frustrate
frustrate definition
frus·trate (frus′trāt′)
transitive verb frustrated -·trat′ed, frustrating -·trat′·ing
- to cause to have no effect; bring to nothing; counteract; nullify to frustrate plans
- to prevent from achieving an objective; foil; baffle; defeat to frustrate an opponent
- Psychol. to prevent from gratifying certain impulses or desires, either conscious or unconscious
Etymology: ME frustraten < L frustratus, pp. of frustrare, frustrari, to disappoint, deceive < frustra, in vain: for IE base see fraud
intransitive verb
to become frustrated
adjective
Now Rare frustrated; baffled; defeated
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