duel English · revision 804

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdul/, /ˈd(j)u.əl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|duelle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|la-med|duellum|t=combat between two persons]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) from Old Latin ''duellum'' “war”, the early form of ''bellum'' (see [[bellicose]]).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) The old form survived in poetic language, and in Medieval Latin it took the special sense “single combat” through a fancied connection with ''duo'' “two”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The Italian form ''duello'' was also used in English.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A judicial single combat, trial by battle (1284 in the OED, in Latin form; about 1475 in English in Barnhart; late 15th century in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The general sense, any contest between two persons or parties, dates from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) By the early 17th century ''duel'' had taken on its specialized meaning: a premeditated private fight between two persons with deadly weapons, in the presence of at least two witnesses, usually to settle a point of honour.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb dates from about 1645,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) and ''duellist'' from 1592.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1284 – judicial single combat (Latin form).^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1475 – ''duelle''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1591 – any contest between two parties.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – ''duellist''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1606 – a prearranged private fight with deadly weapons.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1645 – verb, to fight a duel.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A prearranged, formal combat with weapons between two persons, fought in the presence of witnesses, usually to settle a point of [[honor|alt=honour]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A struggle between two contending persons, groups or ideas; a hard-fought contest between two opponents.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical)'' Trial by combat; [[wager of battle]].^(Wiktionary)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fight a duel, or engage in a contest as if in a duel.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To oppose actively and forcefully.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dueler]]

+ * [[outduel]]

+ * [[duelist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[duello]]

+ * [[dual]]

+ * [[bellicose]]

+ * [[belligerent]]

+ * [[rebel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}