BATTLES
Noun
battles
plural of battle
Verb
battles
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of battle
Anagrams
• batlets, battels, tablets
Source: Wiktionary
BATTLE
Bat"tle, a.
Definition: Fertile. See Battel, a. [Obs.]
Bat"tle, n. Etym: [OE. bataille, bataile, F. bataille battle, OF.,
battle, battalion, fr. L. battalia, battualia, the fighting and
fencing exercises of soldiers and gladiators, fr. batuere to strike,
beat. Cf. Battalia, 1st Battel, and see Batter, v. t. ]
1. A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions
of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement; a combat.
2. A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.
The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of
the best poet of that day. H. Morley.
3. A division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.]
The king divided his army into three battles. Bacon.
The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the battle, and on it
alone depended the fate of every action. Robertson.
4. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear; battalia. [Obs.]
Hayward.
Note: Battle is used adjectively or as the first part of a self-
explaining compound; as, battle brand, a "brand" or sword used in
battle; battle cry; battlefield; battle ground; battlearray; battle
song. Battle piece, a painting, or a musical composition,
representing a battle.
– Battle royal. (a) A fight between several gamecocks, where the
one that stands longest is the victor. Grose. (b) A contest with
fists or cudgels in which more than two are engaged; a mĂȘlĂ©e.
Thackeray.
– Drawn battle, one in which neither party gains the victory.
– To give battle, to attack an enemy.
– To join battle, to meet the attack; to engage in battle.
– Pitched battle, one in which the armies are previously drawn up
in form, with a regular disposition of the forces.
– Wager of battle. See under Wager, n.
Syn.
– Conflict; encounter; contest; action. Battle, Combat, Fight,
Engagement. These words agree in denoting a close encounter between
contending parties. Fight is a word of less dignity than the others.
Except in poetry, it is more naturally applied to the encounter of a
few individuals, and more commonly an accidental one; as, a street
fight. A combat is a close encounter, whether between few or many,
and is usually premeditated. A battle is commonly more general and
prolonged. An engagement supposes large numbers on each side, engaged
or intermingled in the conflict.
Bat"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Battled (p. pr. & vb. n. Battling.]
Etym: [F. batailler, fr. bataille. See Battle, n.]
Definition: To join in battle; to contend in fight; as, to battle over
theories.
To meet in arms, and battle in the plain. Prior.
Bat"tle, v. t.
Definition: To assail in battle; to fight.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition