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Added 2 October 2026

combat

/ˈkɒmˌbæt/ noun

In Latin: proelium, pugna Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about combat at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A battle, a fight (often one in which weapons are used).
a struggle for victory

verb

To fight; to struggle against.
It has proven very difficult to combat drug addiction.
To fight (with); to struggle for victory (against).

Origin

16th century, borrowed from Middle French combat, deverbal from Old French combatre, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com- (“with”) + battuere (“to beat, strike”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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