belligerent
Use Belligerent in a sentence
ər adjective
1.
warlike; given to waging war.
2.
of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose: a belligerent tone.
3.
waging war; engaged in war: a peace treaty between belligerent powers.
4.
pertaining to war or to those engaged in war: belligerent rights.
noun
5.
a state or nation at war.
6.
a member of the military forces of such a state.
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Belligerent
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Origin:
1570–80; < Latin belliger waging war (belli-, combining form of bellum war + ger-, base of gerere to conduct) + -ent; replacing belligerant < Latin belligerant- (stem of belligerāns, present participle of belligerāre to wage war; see -ant)
1570–80; < Latin belliger waging war (belli-, combining form of bellum war + ger-, base of gerere to conduct) + -ent; replacing belligerant < Latin belligerant- (stem of belligerāns, present participle of belligerāre to wage war; see -ant)
Related forms
bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverb
in·ter·bel·lig·er·ent, adjective
un·bel·lig·er·ent, adjective
un·bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverb
Synonyms
2. pugnacious, truculent, combative, quarrelsome, antagonistic, contentious.
2. pugnacious, truculent, combative, quarrelsome, antagonistic, contentious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To belligerent
Collins
World English Dictionary
belligerent (bɪˈlɪdʒərənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive: a belligerent tone |
| 2. | relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare |
| —n | |
| 3. | a person or country engaged in fighting or war |
| [C16: from Latin belliger, from bellum war + gerere to wage] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
belligerent
1570s, from L. belligerantem (nom. belligerans), pp. of belligerare "to wage war," from bellum "war" + gerere "to bear, to carry." The noun meaning "party or nation at war" is from 1811. Related: Belligerence; belligerency.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
As if this were not enough to ruin mankind, we are watching the belligerent states engaging in hegemonic wars.
Do not respond to any messages that are hostile, belligerent, inappropriate or in any way make you feel uncomfortable.
None seem sinister or belligerent amid the riot of colour and camera phones.
We have had little sympathy for similar proceedings in the belligerent countries.
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