Archaic KJV Word
Overcome
Modern equivalent: get through
What Was Lost
The victory. Nikao was a military word -- the battle is over, and you won. 'To him that overcometh' was not 'to him that copes adequately' but 'to the victor in the battle.' The overcomers in Revelation were not survivors but conquerors -- they had fought and won, and the spoils of victory awaited them.
Closest Survivor in Modern English
conquer (retains the military victory but sounds too aggressive for modern sensibility)
Peak Usage (1611)
KJV Revelation 2:7 -- 'To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life'; 1 John 5:4 -- 'This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith'
Died still used but diluted (~1900)
Greek nikao ('to conquer/gain victory in battle/triumph over an enemy') diluted from military victory to 'getting past difficulties.' The conquest and triumph dimension was replaced by coping.
What Replaced It
“cope with”
Managing difficulty; nikao was decisive victory over a defeated enemy
“get through”
Survival; nikao was conquest -- the enemy was not survived but defeated
“handle”
Management; nikao was the word Nike was named for -- the goddess of victory