combat English · revision 4517

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1543|origins=la battuere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun UK /ˈkɒm.bæt/, US /ˈkɑːm.bæt/; verb UK /ˈkɒm.bæt/, US /kəmˈbæt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|combattre|t=to fight]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) the noun from French combat, from the verb,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Old French combatre (12th century),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-lat|combattere]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from Latin com “with each other” and battuere “to beat, fight”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[batter]] and [[battle]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb, to fight, originally especially in single combat: 1543 in the OED,^(OED 1989) 1564 in Merriam-Webster and Barnhart, in Hakluyt's Voyages,^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) the 1560s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The noun, a fight between two armed persons: 1546 in Merriam-Webster,^(MWU 2024) 1567 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun was first especially a fight between two armed persons, later called ''single combat'' (1620s),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in a general sense any fight between opposing forces from 1583,^(OED 1989) or figuratively a struggle or controversy from 1567.^(OED 1989) The transitive verb, to fight with, is from 1590,^(OED 1989) the 1580s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and figuratively to oppose or struggle against, now the most frequent use, from 1627.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The attributive use, as in ''combat zone'' or ''combat boots'', is now frequent, especially in the United States.^(OED 1989) ''Combatant'' is from 1489, in Caxton,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''combative'' from before 1834, in a letter of Charles Lamb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1543 – verb, to fight.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1546 – noun, a fight.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1583 – a fight between forces.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590 – verb, to fight with.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – ''single combat''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1627 – verb, to oppose figuratively.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1834 – ''combative''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Fighting, especially between armed forces: ''killed in combat''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A fight or [[struggle]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fight against; to oppose in [[battle]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To try to stop or reduce something: ''combat crime''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To fight or struggle.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[combatable]]

+ * [[combatant]]

+ * [[combative]]

+ * [[combat-ready]]

+ * [[intercombat]]

+ * [[noncombat]]

+ * [[precombat]]

+ * [[combat boot]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[debate]]

+ * [[battle]]

+ * [[batter]]

+ * [[battery]]

+ * [[abate]]

+ * [[hors de combat]]

+ * [[battalion]]

+ * [[abattoir]]

+ * [[rebate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}