battle en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- [ˈbatʰɫ̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈbætl̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [bætɫ̩] (General-American)
- băt'l (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˈbætl̩/ (General-American)
- [ˈbæɾɫ̩] (General-American)
Etymology
From Middle English batel, batell, batelle, batayle, bataylle, borrowed from Old French bataille, from Late Latin battālia, variant of battuālia (“fighting and fencing exercises”) from Latin battuō (“to strike, hit, beat, fight”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from a Gaulish or Proto-Germanic root from Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰ- (“to stab, dig”), related to Old English beado (“battle”); or possibly from a Proto-Indo-European *bʰew- (“to hit, strike, beat”). Doublet of battalia and battel. Displaced native Old English ġefeoht, beado, camp, and wīg (“battle”), among others.
Meanings
-
A contest, a struggle.
Australian broadcaster Clive James has admitted that he is losing his long-fought battle with leukaemia.
2012 June 21, “Clive James: ‘I’ve Lost My Battle with Cancer’”, in ITV News, archived from the original on 21 Jun 2012:I returned, and saw vnder the Sunne, That the race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of vnderstanding, nor yet fauour to men of skil; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes 9:11:In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages – with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive.
2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 – 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 26 Mar 2019:the battle of life
[T]he whole intellectual battle that had at its centre the best poem of the best poet of that day, and had the English Revolution among issues of the strife, was quickening the energies within young Foe's [i.e., Daniel Defoe's] mind when his age was twenty.
1884, Henry Morley, “Introduction”, in Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague Year: […], London: George Routledge and Sons, Limd.; New York, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton and Co., →OCLC, page v:
- A contest, a struggle. ▸ A one-on-one competition in rapping or breakdance.
- A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; a combat, an engagement.
-
(archaic) A division of an army; a battalion.
Already Cæſar Has ravaged more than half the Globe, and ſees Mankind grown thin by his deſtructive Sword: Should he go further, Numbers would be wanting To form new Battels, and ſupport his Crimes.
1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:Thenne kyng Arthur made redy his hooſt in x batails and Nero was redy in the felde afore the caſtel Tarabil with a grete hooſt / & he had x batails with many mo peple than Arthur had […]
[1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum x”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book II (in Middle English), [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaf 43, verso; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, page 86, lines 28–31:No gentleman would appear in the field but on horſeback. To ſerve in any other manner he would have deemed derogatory to his rank. The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called The battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every action. The infantry, collected from the dregs and refuſe of the people, ill armed and worſe diſciplined; was of no account.
1769, William Robertson, “Section II. View of the Progress of Society in Europe, with Respect to the Command of the National Force Requisite in Foreign Operations.”, in The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. With a View of the Progress of Society in Europe, from the Subversion of the Roman Empire, to the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century. In Three Volumes, volume I, London: Printed by W. and W. Strahan, for W[illiam] Strahan; T[homas] Cadell, […]; and J. Balfour, […], →OCLC, page 87:Once I link up with Lord Bolton and the Freys, I will have more than twelve thousand men. I mean to divide them into three battles and start up the causeway a half-day apart.
2000 August 8, George R[aymond] R[ichard] Martin, “”, in A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire; 3), London: Voyager, →ISBN, page 525:They ſay, that the King diuided his Armie into three Battailes; whereof the Vant-guard onely well ſtrengthened with wings, came to fight.
1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC, page 35:
-
(obsolete) The main body of an army, as distinct from the vanguard and rear; the battalia.
Iohn Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Earle of Surrey, Shall haue the leading of the Foot and Horſe. They thus directed, we will fllow ^([sic]) In the maine Battell, whose puiſſance on either ſide Shall be well-winged with our cheefeſt Horſe: This, and Saint George to boote.
c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 203:hovering aloofe in the fields he suffered Wyat his Van and main Battell (cutting off some of the Reare) to march undisturbed save with one shot, from Knights-Bridge to Charing Chrosse.
1655, Thomas Fuller, The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII, Book VIII, Century XVI, Section I, §36The artillery, under Waldmann, with whom Herter rode in company, was divided between the vanguard and the “battle,” or main body, which comprised the bulk of the army.
1868, John Foster Kirk, A History of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, volume 3, page 395:
-
(abbreviation, alt-of, clipping) Clipping of battle buddy.
alt of battle buddy
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| batail | alternative | lexicographic | |
| battel | alternative | lexicographic | |
| battles | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| battell | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
battleful · Battle of Gaugamela · battlesome · battleground · battle station · rap battle · battlecraft · Battle Ground · battle of the bulge · battle-axe · postbattle · battle pass · battleplane · battle-ground · battle of the brains · battle-scarred · battle waggon · battlewagon · battle-array · battle-field · battleline · no battle plan survives contact with the enemy · battle-sark · battle of the forms · battlesuit · battle rap · battle ground · Father Charles goes down and ends battle · battle-hardened · battleward · battle of the bands · battle honours · battle of the sexes · battlemage · give battle · battle tank · battlefield · battle cry · battleworthy · Battle Mountain · drawn battle · nonbattle · battlefront · battleship · battle rifle · midbattle · battle ship · battle-sharp · mid-battle · battle bus · battle map · battle of the currents · battle out · battlebus · Van Dorn battle flag · field of battle · battle-line · Battle of Okinawa · battle royal · battle wagon · battle rapper · battle line · no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy · Richard of York gave battle in vain · battailous · battle fleet · half the battle · battleball · battlehorse · running battle · battle taxi · gunbattle · battle-cruiser · battle-ax · battlewards · knowing is half the battle · cyberbattle · fight a losing battle · battle-tested · cauldron battle · battlemaster · join battle · battle rope · active time battle · battle piece · order of battle · battle-damaged · line of battle · Battle Creek · main battle tank · minibattle · battler · prebattle · battle song · battle axe · lose one's battle · how goes the battle · battleplan · battle fatigue · uphill battle · battle-royal · battlewise · battle fatigues · battledress · battleskies · battle jacket · Battle River · battle-royale · battle-twig · battleworks · pitched battle · wager of battle · battle rhythm · battlespace · battlegroup · battle cruiser · battle stations · battle royale · do battle · battlezone · pick one's battles · line of battle ship
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (254)
ca batalla (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pl bitwa (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ht batay (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · be бата́лія (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sc bataza (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pt batalha (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · eu bataila (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tg муҳориба (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sc batalla (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · es lucha (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · he מַאֲבָק (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · bn লড়াই (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tt көрәш (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tk göreş (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · vo lekomip (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pl batalion ((obsolete) a division of an army; a battalion) · ar مَعْرَكَة (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · rm bataglia (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · te యుద్ధము (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pdt Schlacht (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · it battaglia (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · lo ສົງຄາມ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · lv kauja (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ur لَڑائی (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nl slag (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · az mübarizə (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · wa toursiyaedje (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · lb Schluecht (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · el αγώνας (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · ga coimhlint (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · scn battagghia (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tg разм (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cmn 鬥爭 /斗争 ((obsolete) a division of an army; a battalion) · wa bataye (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sc batàglia (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · el μάχη (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · sl boj (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fi taistelu (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · az toqquşma (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sa युद्ध (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sv kamp (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tr vuruşma (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · kk шайқас (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cmn 爭鬥 /争斗 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sga cath (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ist batalgia (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mn тулалдаан (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uk бата́лія (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · wa bate (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · et lahing (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ga cath (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · itk בַאטַאלְײַה (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hy մարտ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cmn 戰役 /战役 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ko 전쟁 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sh бо̀рба (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · grc μάχη (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uk бойови́ще (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pl batalia (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · de Schlacht (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · da kamp (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · ru борьба́ (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · pgl ᚉᚐᚈᚈᚒ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tr harp (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sk boj (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sc batadha (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nl kamp (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tg мубориза (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · lt kova (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · gl batalla (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sl bitka (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ltg kuove (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tr savaş (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sh би̏тка (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · wa batreye (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hu csata (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ug جەڭ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · az döyüş (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · be бой (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tl labanan (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sk bitva (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · zu impi (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sa रण (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · yi שלאַכט (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fa-ira نَبَرْد (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ja 戦闘 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · wyi jelpchering (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cmn 戰鬥 /战斗 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · id pertempuran (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mi parekura (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nb slag (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · wa lûte (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · or ଲଢେଇ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fr lutte (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · kk күрес (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · rm battaglia (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fa-ira جَنْگ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ky согуш (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sh бо̀рба (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nl gevecht (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · de Kampf (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ka ჭიდილი (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ota صاواش (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sv slag (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uz muhoraba (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ja 戦 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mnc ᠠᡶᠠᠨ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cs bitva (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ky кыргын (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · oc batalha (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · be змага́нне (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ps محاربه (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tr cenk (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fi taistelu (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · pl walka (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · bg би́тка (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · de Kampf (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · grc δῆρις (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · bg бой (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ru бой (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nl strijd (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · nl veldslag (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · is barátta (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · sh bòrba (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ota ناورد (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ru бата́лия (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ko 싸움 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ckb شەڕ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sh bȏj (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · eo batalo (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uk бойови́сько (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · xsv kavja (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · bg борба́ (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · pl walka (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · ja 争い (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · vi trận đánh (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · es batalla (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nrf batâle (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fa-ira رَزْم (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · eo lukto (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · da slag (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · alt согыш (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ru сраже́ние (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sw vita (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · bg сраже́ние (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uk би́тва (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sq betejë (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · it pugna (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nl gevecht (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · egy aHA-A24 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hy կռիվ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · kn ಕಾಳಗ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sh bòrba (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · fa-ira مُحارِبِه (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · be бі́тва (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hi जंग (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · de Gefecht (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · is bardagi (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sk bitka (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uk бій (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mi putakari (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fr lutte (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · hi समर (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tab дяви (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hu ütközet (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ur جَن٘گ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · yi קאַמף (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · la proelium (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ug مۇھارىبە (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tt сугыш (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nb kamp (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sa संग्राम (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cy brwydr (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ja 戦い (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · alt јуу-согуш (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · lt mūšis (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ro bătălie (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · bn সংগ্রাম (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · id pertarungan (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ca batalla (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · uz muboraza (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ja 戦い (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · kk ұрыс (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ky күрөш (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hy պայքար (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · pt luta (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · cs boj (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · ur رَزْم (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · kg mvita (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fro bataille (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uz jang (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · el μάχη (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · it lotta (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · tk söweş (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mn байлдаан (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ckb ڕەزم (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pl bój (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ang ġefeoht (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ms pertempuran (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · frr kåmp (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · tr muharebe (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ko 전투 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · nrf bataille (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mi matawhāura (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ru би́тва (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · my တိုက်ပွဲ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · da kamp (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mk бој (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ka ბრძოლა (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hi संग्राम (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pap bataya (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tg набард (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · he קְרָב (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fr bataille (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ky уруш (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ur مُبارَزَہ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cy cad (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hi रण (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hi लड़ाई (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sh bȉtka (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · txb weta (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · eu guda (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · bo རྒྱ་འདྲེ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ug كۈرەش (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ps جګړه (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ln etumba (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · th สงคราม (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · km ចំបាំង (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uz urush (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cs boj (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hy ճակատամարտ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · cs zápas (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · he מַאֲבָק (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tg ҷанг (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · tk jeň (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mr लढाई (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ko 교전 (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ca batalla ((obsolete) a division of an army; a battalion) · az vuruşma (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pl bitwa (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · sh бо̑ј (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · fa-ira مُبارِزِه (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · pdt Kaumf (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ps جنګ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ug سوقۇش (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · sv strid (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · uz kurash (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · bn জঙ্গ (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · ast batalla (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · zdj nkodo (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · frr slåcht (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · mk битка (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat) · hi संघर्ष (struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life) · kk айқас (general action, fight, or encounter; a combat)