Etymologically
Log in

combat

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 10:10. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kɔ̃.ba/[1]

Forms

combat m (plural combats)[1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from combattre.[2][3][4][1] That verb is Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Late Latin combattuō, formed on Latin battuō (“to beat”) (see battre).[5] The AND records the noun in Anglo-Norman, for judicial combat, in the late 13th century.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Robert Estienne's Latin–French dictionary (1538) gives it for Latin certamen, the act of fighting an opponent, and figuratively for a verbal contest.[2]

Semantic evolution

Rabelais has en ordre de combat (1549) and, figuratively, the plaisant combat of the winds (1564).[2] Estienne (1549) uses it for the public games in which champions fought for a prize, and Montaigne speaks of le combat de taureaux.[2][7] Hors de combat is the state of someone unable to go on fighting; the plural combats names military action, and modern compounds include avion de combat and char de combat.[4][1]

Timeline

  • 1538 – “Fight” and “verbal contest”, Robert Estienne.[2]
  • 1549 – En ordre de combat, Rabelais.[2]
  • 1564 – The struggle of natural forces, Rabelais.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A fight, combat; a battle or part of one: combat naval, aérien, engager le combat.[8][1]
  2. Hors de combat: out of action.[4]
  3. A contest between fighters or animals: combat de boxe, combat de coqs.[1][4]
  4. (figurative) A struggle: le combat contre la maladie, le combat des idées.[8][2]

Word family

  • combatif
  • combativité

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert