Check"mate, n. [F. 'echec et mat, fr. Per. shah mat ceckmate, lit., the king is dead, fr. Ar. mata he died, is dead. The king, when made prisoner, or checkmated, is assumed to be dead, and the game is finished. See Chess.]
1.
The position in the game of chess when a king is in check and cannot be released, -- which ends the game.
2.
A complete check; utter defeat or overthrow.
© Webster 1913.
Check"mate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checkmated; p. pr. & vb. n. Checkmating.]
1. Chess
To check (an adversary's king) in such a manner that escape in impossible; to defeat (an adversary) by putting his king in check from which there is no escape.
2.
To defeat completely; to terminate; to thwart.
To checkmate and control my just demands.
Ford.
© Webster 1913.