Dictionary

militate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈmɪlɪteɪt/

Etymology

First attested in 1598; borrowed from Latin mīlitātus, perfect passive participle from mīlitō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Semantically from its cognate, French militer.

Meanings

1. To give force or effect toward; to influence.
   • There are a number of theoretical concerns which might seem to militate against the successful creation of a dictionary of Indian English. 2012, James Lambert, “Beyond Hobson-Jobson: A new lexicography for Indian English”, in World Englishes, page 308:
   • to militate in favor of a particular result
   • The 8-ft. singles were pre-eminently express engines, and were not satisfactory on secondary duties where frequent stops were called for, which militated against their being retained in service. 1944 January and February, W. J. Reynolds, “Locomotive No. 1007 of the Great Northern Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 7:
   • There are no missing values for burglary victimization in the data, whereas there are ten missing values for robbery―and as many for physical assault. This fact would militate in favor of using burglary as the independent variable. 2001, Bernard E. Harcourt, chapter 3, in Illusion of Order:
   • It has been at least an academic tradition, if no more, that mathematical studies militate against amatory inclinations. 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 149:
   • Trade sanctions militate against international cooperation.
2. (obsolete) To serve as a soldier or participate in warfare.
   • This..moues many Italian Caualiers to militate in the warres of Holland. 1625, Nathanael Brent, Free Schoole of Warre:

Forms

Deriveds

militation

Synonyms

mitigate

Translations (11)

ru спосо́бствовать (to influence) · ru меша́ть (to influence) · cs bojovat (to influence) · el στρατεύομαι (to influence) · ru быть поме́хой (to influence) · bg преча (to influence) · cs působit (to influence) · fr militer (to influence) · ru препя́тствовать (to influence) · bg препятствам (to influence) · el αντιστρατεύομαι (to influence)