Adjacent Words

War definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

WAR, n. [G., to perplex, embroil, disturb. The primary sense of the root is to strive, struggle, urge, drive, or to turn, to twist.]
1. A contest between nations or states, carried on by force, either for defense, or for revenging insults and redressing wrongs, for the extension of commerce or acquisition of territory, or for obtaining and establishing the superiority and dominion of one over the other. These objects are accomplished by the slaughter or capture of troops, and the capture and destruction of ships, towns and property. Among rude nations, war is often waged and carried on for plunder. As war is the contest of nations or states, it always implies that such contest is authorized by the monarch or the sovereign power of the nation. When war is commenced by attacking a nation in peace, it si called an offensive war, and such attack is aggressive. When war is undertaken to repel invasion or the attacks of an enemy, it is called defensive, and a defensive war is considered as justifiable. Very few of the wars that have desolated nations and deluged the earth with blood, have been justifiable. Happy would it be for mankind, if the prevalence of Christian principles might ultimately extinguish the spirit of war, and if the ambition to be great, might yield to the ambition of being good.
Preparation for war is sometimes the best security for peace.
2. In poetical language, instruments of war.
His complement of stores, and total war.
3. Poetically, forces; army.
Oer the embattled ranks the waves return, and overwhelm their war.
4. The profession of arms; art of war; as a fierce man of war. Isaiah 2.
5. Hostility; state of opposition or contest; act of opposition.
6. Enmity; disposition to contention.
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart. Psalms 55.
Man of war, in naval affairs, a ship of large size, armed and equipped for attack or defense.
Holy war, a crusade; a war undertaken to deliver the Holy Land, or Judea, from infidels. These holy wars were carried on by most unholy means.
WAR, v.i.
1. To make war; to invade or attack a nation or state with force of arms; to carry on hostilities; or to be in a state of contest by violence.
He teacheth my hands to war. 1 Samuel 22.
And they warred against eh Midianites. Numbers 31.
Why should I war without the walls of Troy?
2. To contend; to strive violently; to be in a state of opposition.
Lusts which war against the soul. 1 Peter 2.
WAR, v.t.
1. To make war upon; as, to war the Scot. [Not used.]
2. To carry on a contest.
That thou mightest war a good warfare. 1 Timothy 1.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the waging of armed conflict against an enemy; "thousands of people were killed in the war" [syn: war, warfare]
2: a legal state created by a declaration of war and ended by official declaration during which the international rules of war apply; "war was declared in November but actual fighting did not begin until the following spring" [syn: war, state of war] [ant: peace]
3: an active struggle between competing entities; "a price war"; "a war of wits"; "diplomatic warfare" [syn: war, warfare]
4: a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious; "the war on poverty"; "the war against crime" v
1: make or wage war [ant: make peace]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English werre, from Anglo-French werre, guerre, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife; akin to Old High German werran to confuse Date: 12th century 1. a. (1) a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations (2) a period of such armed conflict (3) state of war b. the art or science of warfare c. (1) obsolete weapons and equipment for war (2) archaic soldiers armed and equipped for war 2. a. a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism b. a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end <a class war> <a war against disease> c. variance, odds 3 • warless adjective II. intransitive verb (warred; warring) Date: 13th century 1. to be in active or vigorous conflict 2. to engage in warfare III. adverb or adjective Etymology: Middle English werre, from Old Norse verri, adjective, verr, adverb; akin to Old English wiersa worse — more at worse Date: 13th century chiefly Scottish worse IV. transitive verb (warred; warring) Date: 15th century Scottish worst, overcome

Britannica Concise

State of conflict, generally armed, between two or more entities. It is characterized by intentional violence on the part of large bodies of individuals organized and trained for that purpose. On the national level, some wars are fought internally between rival political factions (civil war); others are fought against an external enemy. Wars have been fought in the name of religion, in self-defense, to acquire territory or resources, and to further the political aims of the aggressor state's leadership.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a armed hostilities between esp. nations; conflict (war broke out; war zone). b a specific conflict or the period of time during which such conflict exists (was before the war). c the suspension of international law etc. during such a conflict. 2 (as the War) a war in progress or recently ended; the most recent major war. 3 a hostility or contention between people, groups, etc. (war of words). b (often foll. by on) a sustained campaign against crime, disease, poverty, etc. --v.intr. (warred, warring) 1 (as warring adj.) a rival; fighting (warring factions). b conflicting (warring principles). 2 make war. Phrases and idioms: art of war strategy and tactics. at war (often foll. by with) engaged in a war. go to war declare or begin a war. go to the wars archaic serve as a soldier. have been in the wars colloq. appear injured, bruised, unkempt, etc. war baby a child, esp. illegitimate, born in wartime. war bride a woman who marries a serviceman met during a war. war chest funds for a war or any other campaign. war-cloud a threatening international situation. war correspondent a correspondent reporting from a scene of war. war crime a crime violating the international laws of war. war criminal a person committing or sentenced for such crimes. war cry 1 a phrase or name shouted to rally one's troops. 2 a party slogan etc. war damage damage to property etc. caused by bombing, shelling, etc. war dance a dance performed by primitive peoples etc. before a battle or to celebrate victory. war department the State office in charge of the army etc. war-game 1 a military exercise testing or improving tactical knowledge etc. 2 a battle etc. conducted with toy soldiers. war-gaming the playing of war-games. war grave the grave of a serviceman who died on active service, esp. one in a special cemetery etc. war loan stock issued by the British Government to raise funds in wartime. war memorial a monument etc. commemorating those killed in a war. war of attrition a war in which each side seeks to wear out the other over a long period. war of the elements poet. storms or natural catastrophes. War Office hist. the British State department in charge of the army. war of nerves an attempt to wear down an opponent by psychological means. war-plane a military aircraft. war poet a poet writing on war themes, esp. of the two world wars. Wars of the Roses hist. the 15th-c. civil wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, represented by white and red roses. war-weary (esp. of a population) exhausted and dispirited by war. war widow a woman whose husband has been killed in war. war-worn = war-weary. war zone an area in which a war takes place. Etymology: ME werre f. AF, ONF var. of OF guerre: cf. WORSE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

War War, a. Ware; aware. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

War War, n. [OE. & AS. werre; akin to OHG. werra scandal, quarrel, sedition, werran to confound, mix, D. warren, G. wirren, verwirren, to embroil, confound, disturb, and perhaps to E. worse; cf. OF. werre war, F. querre, of Teutonic origin. Cf. Guerrilla, Warrior.] 1. A contest between nations or states, carried on by force, whether for defence, for revenging insults and redressing wrongs, for the extension of commerce, for the acquisition of territory, for obtaining and establishing the superiority and dominion of one over the other, or for any other purpose; armed conflict of sovereign powers; declared and open hostilities. Men will ever distinguish war from mere bloodshed. --F. W. Robertson. Note: As war is the contest of nations or states, it always implies that such contest is authorized by the monarch or the sovereign power of the nation. A war begun by attacking another nation, is called an offensive war, and such attack is aggressive. War undertaken to repel invasion, or the attacks of an enemy, is called defensive. 2. (Law) A condition of belligerency to be maintained by physical force. In this sense, levying war against the sovereign authority is treason. 3. Instruments of war. [Poetic] His complement of stores, and total war. --Prior. 4. Forces; army. [Poetic] On their embattled ranks the waves return, And overwhelm their war. --Milton. 5. The profession of arms; the art of war. Thou art but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth. --1 Sam. xvii. 33. 6. a state of opposition or contest; an act of opposition; an inimical contest, act, or action; enmity; hostility. ``Raised impious war in heaven.'' --Milton. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart. --Ps. lv. 21. Civil war, a war between different sections or parties of the same country or nation. Holy war. See under Holy. Man of war. (Naut.) See in the Vocabulary. Public war, a war between independent sovereign states. War cry, a cry or signal used in war; as, the Indian war cry. War dance, a dance among savages preliminary to going to war. Among the North American Indians, it is begun by some distinguished chief, and whoever joins in it thereby enlists as one of the party engaged in a warlike excursion. --Schoolcraft. War field, a field of war or battle. War horse, a horse used in war; the horse of a cavalry soldier; especially, a strong, powerful, spirited horse for military service; a charger. War paint, paint put on the face and other parts of the body by savages, as a token of going to war. ``Wash the war paint from your faces.'' --Longfellow. War song, a song of or pertaining to war; especially, among the American Indians, a song at the war dance, full of incitements to military ardor. War whoop, a war cry, especially that uttered by the American Indians.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

War War, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Warred; p. pr. & vb. n. Warring.] 1. To make war; to invade or attack a state or nation with force of arms; to carry on hostilities; to be in a state by violence. Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it. --Isa. vii. 1. Why should I war without the walls of Troy? --Shak. Our countrymen were warring on that day! --Byron. 2. To contend; to strive violently; to fight. ``Lusts which war against the soul.'' --1 Pet. ii. 11.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

War War, v. t. 1. To make war upon; to fight. [R.] To war the Scot, and borders to defend. --Daniel. 2. To carry on, as a contest; to wage. [R.] That thou . . . mightest war a good warfare. --Tim. i. 18.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(wars) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A war is a period of fighting or conflict between countries or states. He spent part of the war in the National Guard... They've been at war for the last fifteen years. ? peace N-VAR 2. War is intense economic competition between countries or organizations. The most important thing is to reach an agreement and to avoid a trade war. N-VAR: usu with supp 3. If you make war on someone or something that you are opposed to, you do things to stop them succeeding. She has been involved in the war against organised crime. ...if the United States is to be successful in its war on drugs. N-VAR: oft N against/on n 4. see also warring, civil war, Cold War, council of war 5. If a country goes to war, it starts fighting a war. Do you think this crisis can be settled without going to war? PHRASE: V inflects 6. If two people, countries, or organizations have a war of words, they criticize each other because they strongly disagree about something. (JOURNALISM) Animal rights activists have been engaged in an increasingly bitter war of words with many of the nation's zoos. PHRASE: oft PHR between/with n 7. to lose the battle but win the war: see battle

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead.

In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of Israel from first to last presents but few periods of peace.

The Christian life is represented as a warfare, and the Christian graces are also represented under the figure of pieces of armour (Eph. 6:11-17; 1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4). The final blessedness of believers is attained as the fruit of victory (Rev. 3:21).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Enmity, hostility, state of opposition, strife, contention. 2. Declared hostilities, fighting, warfare, arbitrament of the sword, contest of nations, armed conflict of powers, the last argument of kings, ultima ratio regum. 3. Art of war, profession of arms. II. v. n. 1. Make war, carry on war. 2. Contend, fight, strive.

Foolish Dictionary

A wholesale means of making heroes which, if planned in a small way, would produce only murderers.

Moby Thesaurus

American Revolution, Ares, Athena, Balkan Wars, Bellona, Boer War, Civil War, Crimean War, Crusades, Enyo, Franco-Prussian War, French Revolution, Gallic Wars, Greco-Persian Wars, Indian Wars, Indochina War, Kilkenny cats, Korean War, Mars, Mexican War, Minerva, Napoleonic Wars, Odin, Peloponnesian Wars, Persian Wars, Punic Wars, Russian Revolution, Russo-Japanese War, Sino-Japanese War, Six Day War, Southeast Asian War, Tiu, Tyr, Vietnam War, Woden, World War I, Wotan, all-out war, altercation, appeal to arms, argument, armed combat, armed conflict, arms, art of war, attack, attempt, battle, belligerence, belligerency, bickering, bloodshed, box, brawl, broil, campaign, carry on hostilities, cat-and-dog life, challenge, chivalry, clash, close, collide, combat, come to blows, conflict, contend, contention, contentiousness, contest, contestation, controversy, crusade, cut and thrust, debate, disputation, dispute, drive, duel, endeavor, engage, engage in hostilities, enmity, essay, exchange blows, expedition, fence, feud, fight, fight a duel, fighting, generalship, give and take, give satisfaction, grapple, grapple with, holy war, hostilities, hostility, hot war, jihad, jostle, joust, knighthood, la guerre, litigation, logomachy, make war, might of arms, military operations, mix it up, open hostilities, open war, oppugn, paper war, polemic, quarrel, quarreling, quarrelsomeness, rassle, resort to arms, riot, run a tilt, scramble, scrapping, scuffle, shed blood, shooting war, skirmish, spar, spill blood, squabbling, state of war, strife, strive, struggle, take on, the sword, thrust and parry, tilt, total war, tourney, tug, tussle, wage war, war of words, warfare, warmaking, warring, wartime, words, wrangling, wrestle