Pa. pple. 6– frustrated; 5–7, 9 arch. (see FRUSTRATE pple.) [f. L. frustrāt- ppl. stem of frustrārī to disappoint, f. frustrā in vain. Cf. Fr. frustrer.]
1. trans. To balk, disappoint (a person).
1447, 1606. [see FRUSTRATE pa. pple.].
1663. Wood, Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 509. And soe they were frustrated in their designes.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xiii. To improve their good sense, in proportion as they were frustrated in ambition.
1847. G. P. R. James, The Convict, iii. He had been seldom frustrated in life.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. xxviii. Gwendolen he would certainly not have been sorry to frustrate a little.
b. Const. of (a desired object). Now rare.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. vi. They frustrate and defeact themselues of that blessed rewarde, whiche [etc.].
1571. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 119. Being frustrated of your long desired presence and promises.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. ii. 17. Being frustrated of getting over the River this way, we lookt about for a Tree to fell across the River.
1754. Edwards, Freed. Will, II. xi. 115. God, after he had made the World, was liable to be wholly frustrated of His End in the Creation of it.
1865. Pall Mall G., 30 Dec., 1. Frustrating them [Americans] of what they consider their ‘destiny.’
2. To deprive of effect, render ineffectual; to neutralize, counteract (an effort or effect).
1471. [see FRUSTRATE pa. pple.].
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 14. His [the Diamand’s] vertue is to bewray poisons and to frustrate th[e] opperacion therof.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 762. They are heartlesse, if they see defence to frustrate their arrowes.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., vi. 108. Yet they not lying near enough the superficies of the earth, may frustrate its effects.
1703. J. Barrett, Analecta, 50. Is not such a Course likely to frustrate to them all means of Conversion?
1841. M. Elphinstone, The History of India, II. 23. He endeavoured to frustrate the effects of it by imposing many humiliating ceremonies on Bakarra Khán, to all which that prince submitted.
1875. Scrivener, Lect. Text N. Test., 9. The result was deplorable enough, though in God’s mercy the worst effects of the enemy’s malice were frustrated.
b. To make null and void; to annul, abrogate (a law, etc.); to do away with (a right). Now somewhat rare.
1528. [see FRUSTRATE pa. pple.].
1601. R. Johnson, Relations of the Most Famous Kingdoms, etc. (1603), 67. The Ordinances of these diets cannot bee frustrated, but by another diet.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 205. Nor [ought] the Laws and Statutes of this Realm [to be] by him frustrated or defeated at his will.
a. 1848. R. W. Hamilton, Rew. & Punishm., vi. (1853), 239. A moral system is not frustrated, so long as it can enforce its sanctions.
1852. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss., 411. The fellows frustrated the common right of graduates to the Office of Tutor.
3. To render vain; to balk, disappoint (a hope, expectation, etc.); to baffle, defeat, foil (a design, purpose, etc.). (The current use.) Also, † to prevent the fulfilment of (a prophecy).
1500–20, 1540–1. [see FRUSTRATE pa. pple.].
1605. Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 64. ’Twas yet some comfort When misery could beguile the Tyrants rage And frustrate his proud will.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 116. Julian … sent for workemen from all places, thinking to frustrate Christs prophecie concerning the Temple.
1700. S. L., trans. C. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 17. But our hopes were strangely frustrated: for we quite lost our course: For the Snow fell so mighty thick (as it is usual about Africa) that our Men could not see one another the length of the Ship.
1732. Lediard, Sethos, II. IX. 339. He was … thoughtful of … frustrating Anteus’s unjust design.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 14. The innocent has a chance to frustrate or avoid the villany.
1809. Roland, Fencing, iii. 67. You have the power frequently to frustrate your adversary’s intended motion, by making use of a counter, when he expected a simple parade.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, II. 155. Sastri’s enemies … had come from Baroda to frustrate his negotiation.
1858. Buckle, Civiliz. (1873), II. viii. 548. His plan was frustrated, owing to its premature announcement by his friends in Paris.
Hence Frustrating vbl. sb. Also † Frustrater, one who frustrates.
1640. G. Watts, trans. Bacon’s Adv. Learn., VI. 298. The frustrating of that vaine conceit makes it seem longer than the truth.
1648. Eikon Bas. v. 31. Let thy grace teach Mee wisely to enjoie as well the frustrateings, as the fulfillings of My best hopes, and most specious desires.
a. 1665. Digby, Priv. Mem. (1827), 117. To continue too long in such a school is a frustrating of the intent of it.
1676. Packet Adv. Men of Shaftesbury, 39. Continual Frustrater of the Parliamentary Constitution.
1681. Baxter, Answ. Dodwell, 149. I would have endeavoured to avoid the common frustraters of Disputes.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., IV. i. I shall know how to advise Edward to the frustrating all your schemes.
