Meanings of defeat the purposes in English

But whatever the means used may be, they defeat the purposes of nature, and are in the highest degree reprehensible.

How does outlawry serve to defeat the purposes of the Duke and Thurio and bring about the conquest over them of Valentine?

Better stick it out until something cropped up whereby he could make at least a try to defeat the purposes of these two rogues.

But Satan, seeing this fair and beautiful earth, this wondrous handiwork of God, determined, if possible, to thwart and defeat the purposes of the Almighty.

But here an omission of three words was discovered, namely, "country, territory, or place," which, if not rectified, might defeat the purposes of the bill.

Legislature of 1909, although in the minority, defeated the purposes of the reform majority, because of three principal reasons:

These are some of the methods by which he has defeated the purposes of the excellent institution of a recorded administration.

"Mercy is a quality of heavenly origin," replied Meek Wolfe, "and it should not be perverted to defeat the purposes of heavenly wisdom.