Combat

Pronunciation noun verb

• Rhymes: -æt

Origin

From French, from Old French combatre, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com- ("with") + battuere ("to beat, strike").

Full definition of combat

Noun

1. A battle, a fight (often one in which weapons are used); a struggle for victory.
• 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 8, “ My tastes,” he said, still smiling, “ incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet.” And, to tease her and arouse her to combat : “ I prefer a farandole to a nocturne ; I'd rather have a painting than an etching ; … ”
• 2012-03, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, The British Longitude Act Reconsidered, Conditions were horrendous aboard most British naval vessels at the time. Scurvy and other diseases ran rampant, killing more seamen each year than all other causes combined, including combat.

Derived terms

• combat pay

Verb

1. (transitive) To fight with; to struggle for victory against.
• MiltonTo combat with a blind man I disdain.

Anagrams

• tombac