checkmate

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun complete victory
  2. noun a chess move constituting an inescapable and indefensible attack on the opponent's king
  3. verb place an opponent's king under an attack from which it cannot escape and thus ending the game

Etymology

From Middle English chekmat, from Old French eschec mat, from Arabic شَاه مَاتَ (šāh māta), from Classical Persian شاه مات (šāh māt, “the king [is] amazed”).

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