insurrection definition | Dictionary.com

in⋅sur⋅rec⋅tion

[in-suh-rek-shuh

–noun

an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government.

Origin:
1425–75; late ME < LL insurrēctiōn- (s. of insurrēctiō), equiv. to insurrēct(us) (ptp. of insurgere; see insurgent ) + -iōn- -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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in·sur·rec·tion (ĭn'sə-rěk'shən) Pronunciation Key
n. The act or an instance of open revolt against civil authority or a constituted government.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin īnsurrēctiō, īnsurrēctiōn-, from Latin īnsurrēctus, past participle of īnsurgere, to rise up; see insurgent.]

in'sur·rec'tion·al adj., in'sur·rec'tion·ar'y (-shə-něr'ē) adj. & n., in'sur·rec'tion·ism n., in'sur·rec'tion·ist n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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insurrection

1459, from M.Fr. insurrection, from L. insurrectionem (nom. insurrectio) "a rising up," from insurrectus, pp. of insurgere "to rise up" (see insurgent).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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insurrection
noun
organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another [syn: rebellion]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Insurrection

In`sur*rec"tion\, n. [L. insurrectio, fr. insurgere, insurrectum: cf. F. insurrection. See Insurgent.]

1. A rising against civil or political authority, or the established government; open and active opposition to the execution of law in a city or state.

It is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. --Ezra iv. 19.

2. A rising in mass to oppose an enemy. [Obs.]

Syn: Insurrection, Sedition, Revolt, Rebellion, Mutiny.

Usage: Sedition is the raising of commotion in a state, as by conspiracy, without aiming at open violence against the laws. Insurrection is a rising of individuals to prevent the execution of law by force of arms. Revolt is a casting off the authority of a government, with a view to put it down by force, or to substitute one ruler for another. Rebellion is an extended insurrection and revolt. Mutiny is an insurrection on a small scale, as a mutiny of a regiment, or of a ship's crew.

I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition. --Shak.

Insurrections of base people are commonly more furious in their beginnings. --Bacon.

He was greatly strengthened, and the enemy as much enfeebled, by daily revolts. --Sir W. Raleigh.

Though of their names in heavenly records now Be no memorial, blotted out and razed By their rebellion from the books of life. --Milton.

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