| 释义 |
bat·tle
I. \ˈbad.əl, -atəl\ noun
(-s)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English bataile, batel, from Old French bataille battle, battalion, from Late Latin battalia combat, alteration of battualia fencing exercises, from Latin battuere to beat, of Celtic origin; akin to Gaulish andabata gladiator that fought while wearing a helmet without eye openings — more at bat
1. : a general fight or encounter between armies, ships of war, or aircraft : a general and prolonged military engagement : combat
< the 4-month battle at Anzio >
2. : a combat between two persons; specifically : the combat by which disputes were legally decided — see trial by battle
3. : participation in armed conflict : warfare
< and drunk delight of battle with my peers — Alfred Tennyson >
4. archaic : a body of troops composing an army or one of its chief divisions; especially : battalion
5. : an extended contest, struggle, or controversy (as between athletic teams or political parties) : war
< the advocates of the old classical education have been … fighting a losing battle for over half a century — W.R.Inge >
< a battle for control of the railroad >
6. obsolete : the main body of a military force especially as distinct from the van and rear
II. verb
(battled ; battled ; battling \-d.əliŋ, -t(ə)l-\ ; battles)
Etymology: Middle English batailen, from Middle French bataillier, from bataille
intransitive verb
1. : to engage in battle : fight
< the king will bid you battle presently — Shakespeare >
2. : to contend with full strength, vigor, craft, or other resources : struggle
< battled like an avenging angel for the seamen's rights — Van Wyck Brooks >
< like one who having battled with the waves — L.G.White >
transitive verb
1. : to engage in battle with : fight against
< when the nobles rebelled the king battled them >
2. : to engage in an extended contest, struggle, or controversy with : fight
< for three years he battled factions of both parties — Oscar Handlin >
< they are battling tremendous odds — Henry Hewes >
3. : to force, thrust, or drive by contending or resolute battling
< a small boy battled his way through the crowd — Virginia Woolf >
Synonyms: see contend
III. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English batailen, from Middle French bataillier to fortify, from Old French, from bataille fortifying tower, battle
archaic : to fortify with battlements
< beneath the battled tower — Alfred Tennyson >
IV. \ˈbā-, ˈbe-\
variant of baittle
V. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse beit pasture land — more at bait
transitive verb
obsolete : to feed well : nourish
intransitive verb
obsolete : to feed well : thrive
VI. \like battle I\ transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: probably freq. of bat (II)
chiefly South & Midland : to beat (clothes) with a stick or paddle during laundering |