answersLogoWhite

0

What does 'checkmate' mean?

Updated: 10/5/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Best Answer

The term checkmate is an alteration or Hobson-Jobson of the Persian phrase "Shāh Māt" which means, literally, "the King is ambushed" (or "helpless" or "defeated"). It does not literally mean "the King is dead", although that is a common misconception, as Chess reached Europe via the Islamic world, and Arabic mātaمَاتَ means "died", "is dead".[1] Moghadam traced the etymology of the word mate. It comes from a Persian verb mandan, meaning "to remain", which is cognate with the Latin word manco. It means "remained" in the sense of "abandoned" and the formal translation is "surprised", in the military sense of "ambushed" (not in the sense of "astonished"). So the king is in mate when he is ambushed, at a loss, or abandoned to his fate (Davidson 1981:70-71). The term checkmate has come to mean in modern parlance an irrefutable and strategic victory. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmate#Origin_of_the_word

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

"The king is dead" or "The king is helpless" are literal meanings of the term "checkmate." A checkmate is a situation in which the king is unable to escape capture on the next move. When such a situation is created, the game ends.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Checkmate - the capture of the king - is the ultimate goal in chess, arising when the king is threatened with capture, with no way to respond to that threat by either moving the king, capturing the attacking piece or interposing a defending piece between the attacker and the king.

The checkmated player loses.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

The word checkmate in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat" which means: 'the king is dead.'

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

It means "the king is dead" in another language.

it comes from the Arabic words "sheik mat." which means "the king is dead"

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

The answer is simple, the king is being attacked by another piece, so has to move, but can't move anywhere else without being attacked by another piece again.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

Checkmate is basically when your king is in check, and cannot get out of it by either blocking, capturing or moving.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

The game that the term "checkmate" is typically associated with is the game of chess. Chess is a game that's been around for a long time and is a two player type of game.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Persian

India

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What does 'checkmate' mean?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

In chess your trying to?

Depends on what you mean. Overall Checkmate the opponents King but throughout the game gain material and space to help achive checkmate.


What is 'checkmate' in Arabic?

in Arabic checkmate is مات


When was Checkmate in Rio created?

Checkmate in Rio was created in 1964.


When was Deryni Checkmate created?

Deryni Checkmate was created in 1972.


What is the population of Checkmate Solutions?

The population of Checkmate Solutions is 6.


When was Checkmate Solutions created?

Checkmate Solutions was created in 2003.


How much does checkmate cost?

Checkmate is worth all of the pieces.


What is the 10 turn checkmate in chess?

There are many possibilities to get a checkmate in 10 moves, so there is not official "10 turn checkmate".


What is a false checkmate in chess?

a false checkmate is when someone calls "checkmate" in a chess game and if you can move without getting out then it is a false checkmate. If they call it you get to go 2 times. :) enjoy your chess game!


How many pages does Deryni Checkmate have?

Deryni Checkmate has 302 pages.


What game can end with the word checkmate?

Checkmate is a possible outcome for a game of chess.


When was Checkmate Savage created?

Checkmate Savage was created on 2009-01-26.