Added 7 October 2026
battle
/ˈbætl̩/ noun
In Latin: proelium Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about battle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war.
Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga
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An energetic attempt to achieve something.
getting through the crowd was a real struggle
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An open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals).
the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph
verb
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)