(a) Military supremacy, victory in battle, armed conflict, a physical contest, etc.; also, a victory; ~ in (of) bataille; haven (winnen, etc.) ~; (b) the vanquishing (of an enemy army, a foe, an opponent, etc.), conquest in battle, defeat; haven ~ of (ayenes, on, etc.); ben in ful ~ of, to have (enemies) in one’s power, hold dominion over; (c) in proverbs and prov. expressions; (d) superior military force; also, strength or might; (e) a triumphal procession or celebration; also, a monument or celebration marking defeat (of an enemy) [1st quot.]; with ~, in triumph; (f) palme of ~, a palm leaf serving as a reward for or sign of military victory;—used metonymically [quot. a1460] and fig. [quot. a1500(?c1425)]; tre of ~, the laurel; (g) ~ of word, ?an empty boast of conquests or military prowess; ?victory in a verbal contest; (h) in phrases rendering Vulgate L victima: ~ sacrifice, sacrifice for (of) ~, offringe of victories, a sacrificial animal slain and offered to God in thanks for or hope of victory over enemies, a burnt offering; also, the act of sacrificing, the performance of the ritual sacrifice.

(a) Supremacy in a nonmartial struggle, the upper hand, superior position, dominance, etc. in a clash of opposing principles, natural forces, etc.; cacchen ~, haven the ~; (b) mastery (over an opposing principle, force, etc.), dominion, power; haven ~ aboven (of); (c) vindication in the sight (of one’s detractors), moral victory (over one’s accusers); (d) success in an undertaking, triumph over difficulties inherent in some task or venture;—freq. in proverbs.

(a) Triumph in the struggle of good against evil, virtue against vice, etc., spiritual victory; also, salvation, redemption; also, the power to overcome the body or the soul [last quot.]; comen to ~, haven (the) ~; coroune of ~, the heavenly reward; (b) the vanquishing (of a spiritual foe, the devil, carnality, etc.), defeat, overcoming, routing; geten (winnen) ~ of, haven ~ of (ayenes, in); (c) Christ’s triumph over death, the Resurrection; ~ of crist, ~ of thin cros, thin crois (cros) ~, etc.; (d) used metonymically: a reward for or token of perseverance in a spiritual struggle; also, the means or force by which a spiritual victory is achieved [quots. 2nd and a1450].

In place name: hille of ~ [cp. victorial adj. (b)].