combat

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an engagement fought between two military forces
  2. noun the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
  3. verb battle or contend against in or as if in a battle

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

armed combat

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