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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [battle]
BAT'TLE, n. [See Beat.] Owen supposes the Welsh batel, to be from tel, tight, stretched, compact, and the word primarily to have expressed the drawing of the bow. This is probably an error. The first battles of men were with clubs, or some weapons used in beating, striking. Hence the club of Hercules. And although the moderns use different weapons, still a battle is some mode of beating or striking.] 1. A fight, or encounter between enemies, or opposing armies; an engagement. It is usually applied to armies or large bodies of men; but in popular language, the word is applied to an encounter between small bodies, between individuals, or inferior animals. It is also more generally applied to the encounters of land forces than of ships; the encounters of the latter being called engagements. But battle is applicable to any combat of enemies.2. A body of forces, or division of an army. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear. To give battle, is to attack an enemy; to join battle, is properly to meet the attack; but perhaps this distinction is not always observed. A pitched battle is one in which the armies are previously drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the forces. To turn the battle to the gate, is to fight valiantly, and drive the enemy, who hath entered the city, back to the gate. Is.28. BAT'TLE, v.i. To join in battle; to contend in fight; sometimes with it; as, to battle it. BAT'TLE, v.t. To cover with armed force.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [battle]
1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
BAT'TLE, n. [See Beat.] Owen supposes the Welsh batel, to be from tel, tight, stretched, compact, and the word primarily to have expressed the drawing of the bow. This is probably an error. The first battles of men were with clubs, or some weapons used in beating, striking. Hence the club of Hercules. And although the moderns use different weapons, still a battle is some mode of beating or striking.] 1. A fight, or encounter between enemies, or opposing armies; an engagement. It is usually applied to armies or large bodies of men; but in popular language, the word is applied to an encounter between small bodies, between individuals, or inferior animals. It is also more generally applied to the encounters of land forces than of ships; the encounters of the latter being called engagements. But battle is applicable to any combat of enemies.2. A body of forces, or division of an army. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear. To give battle, is to attack an enemy; to join battle, is properly to meet the attack; but perhaps this distinction is not always observed. A pitched battle is one in which the armies are previously drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the forces. To turn the battle to the gate, is to fight valiantly, and drive the enemy, who hath entered the city, back to the gate. Is.28. BAT'TLE, v.i. To join in battle; to contend in fight; sometimes with it; as, to battle it. BAT'TLE, v.t. To cover with armed force. | BAT'TLE, n. [Fr. bataille; W. batel, a drawing of the bow, a battle; Sp. batalla; It. battaglia, from beating. See Beat. Owen supposes the Welsh batel, to be from tel, tight, stretched, compact, and the word primarily to have expressed the drawing of the bow. This is probably an error. The first battles of men were with clubs, or some weapons used in beating, striking. Hence the club of Hercules. And although the moderns use different weapons, still a battle is some mode of beating or striking.]- A fight, or encounter between enemies, or opposing armies; an engagement. It is usually applied to armies or large bodies of men; but in popular language, the word is applied to an encounter between small bodies, between individuals, or inferior animals. It is also more generally applied to the encounters of land forces than of ships, the encounters of the latter being called engagements. But battle is applicable to any combat of enemies.
- A body of forces, or division of an army. – Bacon.
The main body, as distinct from the van and rear. [Obs.] – Hayward.
To give battle, is to attack an enemy; to join battle, is properly to meet the attack; but perhaps this distinction is not always observed.
A pitched battle, is one in which the armies are previously drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the forces.
To turn the battle to the gate, is to fight valiantly, and drive the enemy, who hath entered the city, back to the gate. – Is. xxviii.
BAT'TLE, v.i. [Fr. batailler; Sp. batallar.]To join in battle; to contend in fight; sometimes with it; as, to battle it. – Addison. BAT'TLE, v.t.To cover with armed force. – Fairfax. | Bat"tle
- Fertile. See
Battel, a.
- A general action, fight, or
encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an
engagement; a combat.
- To join in battle] to contend in
fight; as, to battle over theories.
- To assail in battle; to
fight.
- A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of
life.
- A division of an army; a battalion.
- The main body, as distinct from the van and
rear; battalia.
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1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
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Battle BAT'TLE, noun [See Beat.] Owen supposes the Welsh batel, to be from tel, tight, stretched, compact, and the word primarily to have expressed the drawing of the bow. This is probably an error. The first battles of men were with clubs, or some weapons used in beating, striking. Hence the club of Hercules. And although the moderns use different weapons, still a battle is some mode of beating or striking.] 1. A fight, or encounter between enemies, or opposing armies; an engagement. It is usually applied to armies or large bodies of men; but in popular language, the word is applied to an encounter between small bodies, between individuals, or inferior animals. It is also more generally applied to the encounters of land forces than of ships; the encounters of the latter being called engagements. But battle is applicable to any combat of enemies. 2. A body of forces, or division of an army. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear. To give battle is to attack an enemy; to join battle is properly to meet the attack; but perhaps this distinction is not always observed. A pitched battle is one in which the armies are previously drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the forces. To turn the battle to the gate, is to fight valiantly, and drive the enemy, who hath entered the city, back to the gate. Isaiah 28:6. BAT'TLE, verb intransitive To join in battle; to contend in fight; sometimes with it; as, to battle it. BAT'TLE, verb transitive To cover with armed force.
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217 |
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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