Roget's Thesaurus

Part 45

Chapter 45 3,521 words Public domain Markdown

#716. Attack.—N. attack; assault, assault and battery; onset, # onslaught, charge. aggression, offense; incursion, inroad, invasion; irruption; outbreak; estrapade[obs3], ruade[obs3]; coupe de main, sally, sortie, camisade[obs3], raid, foray; run at, run against; dead set at. storm, storming; boarding, escalade[obs3]; siege, investment, obsession|!, bombardment, cannonade. fire, volley; platoon fire, file fire; fusillade; sharpshooting, broadside; raking fire, cross fire; volley of grapeshot, whiff of the grape, feu d'enfer [Fr]. cut, thrust, lunge, pass, passado[obs3], carte and tierce[Fr][obs3], home thrust; coupe de bec[Fr]; kick, punch &c. (impulse) 276. battue[obs3], razzia[obs3], Jacquerie, dragonnade[obs3]; devastation &c. 162; eboulement[Fr]. assailant, aggressor, invader. base of operations, point of attack; echelon. V. attack, assault, assail; invade; set upon, fall upon; charge, impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists. assume the offensive, take the offensive; be the aggressor, become the aggressor; strike the first blow, draw first blood, throw the first stone at; lift a hand against, draw the sword against; take up the cudgels; advance against, march against; march upon, harry; come on, show fight. strike at, poke at, thrust at; aim a blow at, deal a blow at; give one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick; have a cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at, have a shy at; be down upon, pounce upon; fall foul of, pitch into, launch out against; bait, slap on the face; make a thrust at, make a pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at; bear down upon. close with, come to close quarters; bring to bay. ride full tilt against; attack tooth and nail, go at hammer and tongs. let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly at, hawk at, have at, let out at; make a dash, make a rush at; strike home; drive one hard; press one hard; be hard upon, run down, strike at the root of. lay about one, run amuck. aim at, draw a bead on [U.S.]. fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at; shoot at, pop at, level at, let off a gun at; open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside into; fire a volley, fire red-hot shot; spring a mine. throw a stone, throw stones at; stone, lapidate[obs3], pelt; hurl at, hurl against, hurl at the head of; rock beset[U.S.], besiege, beleaguer; lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery, sap, mine; storm, board, scale the walls. cut and thrust, bayonet, butt; kick, strike &c. (impulse) 276; whip &c. (punish) 972. [attack verbally] assail, impugn; malign (detract) 934. bomb, rocket, blast. Adj. attacking &c.v.; aggressive, offensive, obsidional[obs3]. up in arms. Adv. on the offensive. Int. "up and at them!" Phr. "the din of arms, the yell of savage rage, the shriek of agony, the groan of death" [Southey]; "their fatal hands no second stroke intend" [Paradise Lost]; "thirst for glory quells the love of life" [Addison].

#717. Defense—N. defense, protection, guard, ward; shielding &c.v.; propugnation|, preservation &c. 670; guardianship. area defense; site defense. self-defense, self-preservation; resistance &c. 719. safeguard &c. (safety) 664; balistraria[obs3]; bunker, screen &c. (shelter) 666; camouflage &c. (concealment) 530; fortification; munition, muniment[obs3]; trench, foxhole; bulwark, fosse[obs3], moat, ditch, entrenchment, intrenchment[obs3]; kila[obs3]; dike, dyke; parapet, sunk fence, embankment, mound, mole, bank, sandbag, revetment; earth work, field-work; fence, wall dead wall, contravallation[obs3]; paling &c. (inclosure) 232; palisade, haha, stockade, stoccado[obs3], laager[obs3], sangar[obs3]; barrier, barricade; boom; portcullis, chevaux de frise[Fr]; abatis, abattis[obs3], abbatis[obs3]; vallum[obs3], circumvallation[obs3], battlement, rampart, scarp; escarp[obs3], counter-scarp; glacis, casemate[obs3]; vallation[obs3], vanfos[obs3]. buttress, abutment; shore &c. (support) 215. breastwork, banquette, curtain, mantlet[obs3], bastion, redan[obs3], ravelin[obs3]; vauntmure[obs3]; advance work, horn work, outwork; barbacan[obs3], barbican; redoubt; fort-elage[Fr], fort-alice; lines. loophole, machicolation[obs3]; sally port. hold, stronghold, fastness; asylum &c. (refuge) 666; keep, donjon, dungeon, fortress, citadel, capitol, castle; tower of strength, tower of strength; fort, barracoon[obs3], pah[obs3], sconce, martello tower[obs3], peelhouse[obs3], blockhouse, rath[obs3]; wooden walls. [body armor] bulletproof vest, armored vest, buffer, corner stone, fender, apron, mask, gauntlet, thimble, carapace, armor, shield, buckler, aegis, breastplate, backplate[obs3], cowcatcher, face guard, scutum[obs3], cuirass, habergeon[obs3], mail, coat of mail, brigandine[obs3], hauberk, lorication[obs3], helmet, helm, bassinet, salade[obs3], heaume[obs3], morion[obs3], murrion[obs3], armet[obs3], cabaset[obs3], vizor[obs3], casquetel[obs3], siege cap, headpiece, casque, pickelhaube, vambrace[obs3], shako &c. (dress) 225. bearskin; panoply; truncheon &c. (weapon) 727. garrison, picket, piquet; defender, protector; guardian &c. (safety) 664; bodyguard, champion; knight-errant, Paladin; propugner[obs3]. bulletproof window. hardened site. V. defend, forfend, fend; shield, screen, shroud; engarrison[obs3]; fend round &c. (circumscribe) 229; fence, entrench, intrench[obs3]; guard &c. (keep safe) 664; guard against; take care of &c. (vigilance) 459; bear harmless; fend off, keep off, ward off, beat off, beat back; hinder &c. 706. parry, repel, propugn[obs3], put to flight; give a warm reception to [ironical]; hold at bay, keep at bay, keep arm's length. stand on the defensive, act on the defensive; show fight; maintain one's ground, stand one's ground; stand by; hold one's own; bear the brunt, stand the brunt; fall back upon, hold, stand in the gap. Adj. defending &c.v.; defensive; mural|!; armed, armed at all points, armed cap-a-pie, armed to the teeth; panoplied[obs3]; iron-plated, ironclad; loopholed, castellated, machicolated[obs3], casemated[obs3]; defended &c.v.; proof against. armored, ballproof|!, bulletproof; hardened. Adv. defensively; on the defense, on the defensive; in defense; at bay, pro aris et focis[obs3][Lat]. Int. no surrender! Phr. defense not defiance; Dieu defend le droit [Fr]; fidei defensor [Lat: defender of the faith].

#718. Retaliation.—N. retaliation, reprisal, retort, payback; counter-stroke, counter-blast, counterplot, counter-project; retribution, lex talionis[Lat]; reciprocation &c. (reciprocity) 12. tit for tat, give and take, blow for blow, quid pro quo, a Roland for an Oliver, measure for measure, diamond cut diamond, the biter bit, a game at which two can play; reproof valiant, retort courteous. recrimination &c. (accusation) 938; revenge &c. 919; compensation &c. 30; reaction &c. (recoil) 277. V. retaliate, retort, turn upon; pay, pay off, pay back; pay in one's own coin, pay in the same coin; cap; reciprocate &c. 148; turn the tables upon, return the compliment; give a quid pro quo &c. n., give as much as one takes, give as good as one gets; give and take, exchange fisticuffs; be quits, be even with; pay off old scores. serve one right, be hoist on one's own petard, throw a stone in one's own garden, catch a Tartar. Adj. retaliating &c. v.; retaliatory, retaliative; talionic[obs3]. Adv. in retaliation; en revanche. Phr. mutato nomine de te fabula narratur [Lat][Horace]; par pari refero [Lat][Terence]; tu quoque[Lat: you too]; you're another; suo sibi gladio hunc jugulo [Lat]; a beau jeu beau retour[Fr]; litem [Lat]. . . lite resolvit [Lat][Horace].

#719. Resistance.—N. resistance, stand, front, oppugnation[obs3]; oppugnancy[obs3]; opposition &c. 708; renitence[obs3], renitency; reluctation[obs3], recalcitration[obs3]; kicking &c. v. repulse, rebuff. insurrection &c. (disobedience) 742; strike; turn out, lock out, barring out; levee en masse[Fr], Jacquerie; riot &c. (disorder) 59. V. resist; not submit &c. 725; repugn[obs3], reluct, reluctate[obs3], withstand; stand up against, strive against, bear up under, bear up against, be proof against, make head against; stand, stand firm, stand one's ground, stand the brunt of, stand out; hold one's grounds, hold one's own, hold out, hold firm. breast the wave, breast the current; stem the tide, stem the torrent; face, confront, grapple with; show a bold front &c. (courage) 861; present a front; make a stand, take one's stand. kick, kick against; recalcitrate[obs3], kick against the pricks; oppose &c. 708; fly in the face of; lift the hand against &c. (attack) 716; rise up in arms &c. (war) 722; strike, turn out; draw up a round robin &c. (remonstrate) 932; revolt &c. (disobey) 742; make a riot. prendre le mors aux dents [French: take the bit between the teeth]; sell one's life dearly, die hard, keep at bay; repel, repulse. Adj. resisting &c.v.; resistive, resistant; refractory &c. (disobedient) 742; recalcitrant, renitent; up in arms. repulsive, repellant. proof against; unconquerable &c. (strong) 159; stubborn, unconquered; indomitable &c. (persevering) 604a; unyielding &c. (obstinate) 606. Int. hands off! keep off!

#720. Contention.—N. contention, strife; contest, contestation[obs3]; struggle; belligerency; opposition &c. 708. controversy, polemics; debate &c. (discussion) 476; war of words, logomachy[obs3], litigation; paper war; high words &c. (quarrel) 713; sparring &c. v. competition, rivalry; corrivalry[obs3], corrivalship[obs3], agonism|, concours[obs3], match, race, horse racing, heat, steeple chase, handicap; regatta; field day; sham fight, Derby day; turf, sporting, bullfight, tauromachy[obs3], gymkhana[obs3]; boat race, torpids[obs3]. wrestling, greco-roman wrestling; pugilism, boxing, fisticuffs, the manly art of self-defense; spar, mill, set-to, round, bout, event, prize fighting; quarterstaff, single stick; gladiatorship[obs3], gymnastics; jiujitsu, jujutsu, kooshti[obs3], sumo; athletics, athletic sports; games of skill &c. 840. shindy[obs3]; fracas &c. (discord) 713; clash of arms; tussle, scuffle, broil, fray; affray, affrayment|; velitation|; colluctation|, luctation[obs3]; brabble[obs3], brigue|, scramble, melee, scrimmage, stramash[obs3], bushfighting[obs3]. free fight, stand up fight, hand to hand, running fight. conflict, skirmish; rencounter[obs3], encounter; rencontre[obs3], collision, affair, brush, fight; battle, battle royal; combat, action, engagement, joust, tournament; tilt, tilting [medieval times]; tournay[obs3], list; pitched battle. death struggle, struggle for life or death, life or death struggle, Armageddon[obs3]. hard knocks, sharp contest, tug of war. naval engagement, naumachia[obs3], sea fight. duel, duello[It]; single combat, monomachy[obs3], satisfaction, passage d'armes[Fr], passage of arms, affair of honor; triangular duel; hostile meeting, digladiation[obs3]; deeds of arms, feats of arms; appeal to arms &c. (warfare) 722. pugnacity; combativeness &c. adj.; bone of contention &c. 713. V. contend; contest, strive, struggle, scramble, wrestle; spar, square; exchange blows, exchange fisticuffs; fib|!, justle[obs3], tussle, tilt, box, stave, fence; skirmish; pickeer[obs3]; fight &c. (war) 722; wrangle &c. (quarrel) 713. contend &c. with, grapple with, engage with, close with, buckle with, bandy with, try conclusions with, have a brush &c. n. with, tilt with; encounter, fall foul of, pitch into, clapperclaw[obs3], run a tilt at; oppose &c. 708; reluct. join issue, come to blows, go to loggerheads, set to, come to the scratch, exchange shots, measure swords, meet hand to hand; take up the cudgels, take up the glove, take up the gauntlet; enter the lists; couch one's lance; give satisfaction; appeal to arms &c. (warfare) 722. lay about one; break the peace. compete with, cope with, vie with, race with; outvie[obs3], emulate, rival; run a race; contend &c. for, stipulate for, stickle for; insist upon, make a point of. Adj. contending &c. v.; together by the ears, at loggerheads at war at issue. competitive, rival; belligerent; contentious, combative, bellicose, unpeaceful[obs3]; warlike &c. 722; quarrelsome &c. 901; pugnacious; pugilistic, gladiatorial; palestric[obs3], palestrical[obs3]. Phr. a verbis ad verbera[Lat]; a word and a blow; "a very pretty quarrel as it stands" [Sheridan]; commune periculum concordiam parit[Lat]; lis litem generat[Lat].

#721. Peace.—N. peace; amity &c. (friendship) 888; harmony &c. # (concord) 714; tranquility, calm &c. (quiescence) 265; truce, peace treaty, accord &c. (pacification) 723; peace pipe, pipe of peace, calumet of peace. piping time of peace, quiet life; neutrality. [symbol of peace] dove of peace, white dove. [person who favors peace] dove. pax Romana[Lat]; Pax Americana[Lat][obs3]. V. be at peace; keep the peace &c. (concord) 714. make peace &c. 723. Adj. pacific; peaceable, peaceful; calm, tranquil, untroubled, halcyon; bloodless; neutral. dovish Phr. the storm blown over; the lion lies down with the lamb; "all quiet on the Potomac"; paritur pax bello [Lat][Nepos]; "peace hath her victories no less renowned than war" [Milton]; "they make a desert and they call it peace".

#722. Warfare.—N. warfare; fighting &c.v.; hostilities; war, arms, the sword; Mars, Bellona, grim visaged war, horrida bella[Lat]; bloodshed. appeal to arms, appeal to the sword; ordeal of battle; wager of battle; ultima ratio regum[Lat], arbitrament of the sword. battle array, campaign, crusade, expedition, operations; mobilization; state of siege; battlefield, theater of operations &c. (arena) 728; warpath. art of war, tactics, strategy, castrametation[obs3]; generalship; soldiership; logistics; military evolutions, ballistics, gunnery; chivalry. gunpowder, shot. battle, tug of war &c. (contention) 720; service, campaigning, active service, tented field; kriegspiel[Ger], Kriegsspiel[Ger]; fire cross, trumpet, clarion, bugle, pibroch[obs3], slogan; war-cry, war-whoop; battle cry, beat of drum, rappel, tom-tom; calumet of war; word of command; password, watchword; passage d-armes[Fr]. war to the death, war to the knife; guerre a mort[Fr], guerre a outrance[Fr][obs3]; open war, internecine war, civil war. V. arm; raise troops, mobilize troops; raise up in arms; take up the cudgels &c. 720; take up arms, fly to arms, appeal to arms, fly to the sword; draw the sword, unsheathe the sword; dig up the hatchet, dig up the tomahawk; go to war, wage war, 'let slip the dogs of war' [Julius Caesar]; cry havoc; kindle the torch of war, light the torch of war; raise one's banner, raise the fire cross; hoist the black flag; throw away, fling away the scabbard; enroll, enlist; take the field; take the law into one's own hands; do battle, give battle, join battle, engage in battle, go to battle; flesh one's sword; set to, fall to, engage, measure swords with, draw the trigger, cross swords; come to blows, come to close quarters; fight; combat; contend &c. 720; battle with, break a lance with. [pirates engage in battle] raise the jolly roger, run up the jolly roger. serve; see service, be on service, be on active service; campaign; wield the sword, shoulder a musket, smell powder, be under fire; spill blood, imbrue the hands in blood; on the warpath. carry on war, carry on hostilities; keep the field; fight the good fight; fight it out, fight like devils, fight one's way, fight hand to hand; sell one's life dearly; pay the ferryman's fee. Adj. contending, contentious &c. 720; armed, armed to the teeth, armed cap-a-pie; sword in hand; in arms, under arms, up in arms; at war with; bristling with arms; in battle array, in open arms, in the field; embattled; battled. unpacific[obs3], unpeaceful[obs3]; belligerent, combative, armigerous[obs3], bellicose, martial, warlike; military, militant; soldier- like, soldierly. chivalrous; strategical, internecine. Adv. flagrante bello[Lat], in the thick of the fray, in the cannon's mouth; at the sword's point, at the point of the bayonet. Int. vae victis[Lat]! to arms! to your tents O Israel! Phr. the battle rages; a la guerre comme a la guerre[Fr]; bis peccare in bello non licet[Lat][obs3]; jus gladii[Lat]; "my voice is still for war" [Addison]; "'tis well that war is so terrible, otherwise we might grow fond of it" [Robert E. Lee]; "my sentence is for open war" [Milton]; "pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war" [Othello]; "the cannons have their bowels full of wrath" [King John]; "the cannons . . .spit forth their iron indignation" [King John]; "the fire-eyed maid of smoky war" [Henry IV]; silent leges inter arma [Lat][Cicero]; si vis pacem para bellum[Lat].

#723. Pacification.—N. pacification, conciliation; reconciliation, reconcilement; shaking of hands, accommodation, arrangement, adjustment; terms, compromise; amnesty, deed of release. peace offering; olive branch; calumet of peace, preliminaries of peace. truce, armistice; suspension of arms, suspension of hostilities, stand-down; breathing time; convention; modus vivendi[Lat]; flag of truce, white flag, parlementaire[Fr], cartel|!. hollow truce, pax in bello[Lat]; drawn battle. V. pacify, tranquilize, compose; allay &c. (moderate) 174; reconcile, propitiate, placate, conciliate, meet halfway, hold out the olive branch, heal the breach, make peace, restore harmony, bring to terms. settle matters, arrange matters, accommodate matters, accommodate differences; set straight; make up a quarrel, tantas componere lites[Lat]; come to an understanding, come to terms; bridge over, hush up; make it, make matters up; shake hands; mend one's fences [U.S.]. raise a siege, lift a siege; put up the sword, sheathe the sword; bury the hatchet, lay down one's arms, turn swords into plowshares; smoke the calumet of peace, close the temple of Janus; keep the peace &c. (concord) 714; be pacified &c.; come round. Adj. conciliatory; composing &c.v.; pacified &c.v. Phr. requiescat in pace[Lat].

#724. Mediation.—N. mediation, mediatorship[obs3], mediatization[obs3]; intervention, interposition, interference, intermeddling, intercession; arbitration; flag of truce &c. 723; good offices, peace offering; parley, negotiation; diplomatics[obs3], diplomacy; compromise &c. 774. [person who mediates] mediator, arbitrator, intercessor, peacemaker, makepeace[obs3], negotiator, go-between; diplomatist &c. (consignee) 758; moderator; propitiator; umpire. V. mediate, mediatize[obs3]; intercede, interpose, interfere, intervene; step in, negotiate; meet halfway; arbitrate; magnas componere lites[Lat]. bargain &c. 794 Adj. mediatory.

#725. Submission.—N. submission, yielding; nonresistance; obedience &c. 743. surrender, cession, capitulation, resignation; backdown[obs3]. obeisance, homage, kneeling, genuflexion[obs3], courtesy, curtsy, kowtow, prostration. V. succumb, submit, yeild, bend, resign, defer to. lay down one's arms, deliver up one's arms; lower colors, haul down colors, strike one's flag, strike colors. surrender, surrender at discretion; cede, capitulate, come to terms, retreat, beat a retreat; draw in one's horns &c. (humility) 879; give way, give round, give in, give up; cave in; suffer judgment by default; bend, bend to one's yoke, bend before the storm; reel back; bend down, knuckle down, knuckle to, knuckle under; knock under. eat dirt, eat the leek, eat humble pie; bite the dust, lick the dust; be at one's feet, fall at one's feet; craven; crouch before, throw oneself at the feet of; swallow the leek, swallow the pill; kiss the rod; turn the other cheek; avaler les couleuvres[Fr], gulp down. obey &c. 743; kneel to, bow to, pay homage to, cringe to, truckle to; bend the neck, bend the knee; kneel, fall on one's knees, bow submission, courtesy, curtsy, kowtow. pocket the affront; make the best of, make a virtue of necessity; grin and abide, grin and bear it, shrug the shoulders, resign oneself; submit with a good grace &c. (bear with) 826. Adj. surrendering &c. v.; submissive, resigned, crouching; downtrodden; down on one's marrow bones; on one's bended knee; unresistant, unresisting, nonresisting; pliant &c. (soft) 324; undefended. untenable, indefensible; humble &c. 879. Phr. have it your own way; it can't be helped; amen &c. (assent) 488; da locum melioribus[Lat]; tempori parendum[Lat].

#726. Combatant.—N. combatant; disputant, controversialist, polemic, litigant, belligerent; competitor, rival, corrival[obs3]; fighter, assailant; champion, Paladin; mosstrooper[obs3], swashbuckler fire eater, duelist, bully, bludgeon man, rough. prize fighter, pugilist, boxer, bruiser, the fancy, gladiator, athlete, wrestler; fighting-cock, game-cock; warrior, soldier, fighting man, Amazon, man at arms, armigerent[obs3]; campaigner, veteran; swordsman, sabreur[obs3], redcoat, military man, Rajput. armed force, troops, soldiery, military forces, sabaoth[obs3], the army, standing army, regulars, the line, troops of the line, militia, yeomanry, volunteers, trainband, fencible[obs3]; auxiliary, bersagliere[obs3], brave; garde-nationale, garde-royale[Fr]; minuteman [Am. Hist.]; auxiliary forces, reserve forces; reserves, posse comitatus[Lat], national guard, gendarme, beefeater; guards, guardsman; yeomen of the guard, life guards, household troops. janissary; myrmidon; Mama, Mameluke; spahee[obs3], spahi[obs3], Cossack, Croat, Pandoz. irregular, guerilla, partisan, condottiere[obs3]; franctireur[Fr], tirailleur[obs3], bashi-bazouk; vietminh[guerilla organization names: list], vietcong; shining path; contras; huk, hukbalahap. mercenary, soldier of fortune; hired gun, gunfighter, gunslinger; bushwhacker, free lance, companion; Hessian. hit man[criminals specializing in violence: see bad man], torpedo, soldier. levy, draught; Landwehr[Ger], Landsturm[Ger]; conscript, recruit, cadet, raw levies. infantry, infantryman, private, private soldier, foot soldier; Tommy Atkins[obs3], rank and file, peon, trooper, sepoy[obs3], legionnaire, legionary, cannon fodder, food for powder; officer &c. (commander) 745; subaltern, ensign, standard bearer; spearman, pikeman[obs3]; spear bearer; halberdier[obs3], lancer; musketeer, carabineer[obs3], rifleman, jager[Ger], sharpshooter, yager[obs3], skirmisher; grenadier, fusileer[obs3]; archer, bowman. horse and foot; horse soldier; cavalry, horse, artillery, horse artillery, light horse, voltigeur[Fr], uhlan, mounted rifles, dragoon, hussar; light dragoon, heavy dragoon; heavy; cuirassier[Fr]; Foot Guards, Horse Guards. gunner, cannoneer, bombardier, artilleryman[obs3], matross[obs3]; sapper, sapper and miner; engineer; light infantry, rifles,chasseur[Fr], zouave; military train, coolie. army, corps d'armee[Fr], host, division, battalia[obs3], column, wing, detachment, garrison, flying column, brigade, regiment, corps, battalion, sotnia[obs3], squadron, company, platoon, battery, subdivision, section, squad; piquet, picket, guard, rank, file; legion, phalanx, cohort; cloud of skirmishers. war horse, charger, destrier. marine, man-of-war's man &c. (sailor) 269; navy, wooden walls, naval forces, fleet, flotilla, armada, squadron. [ships of war] man-of-war; destroyer; submarine; minesweeper; torpedo- boat, torpedo-destroyer; patrol torpedo boat, PT boat; torpedo-catcher, war castle, H.M.S.; battleship, battle wagon, dreadnought, line of battle ship, ship of the line; aircraft carrier, carrier. flattop[coll.]; helicopter carrier; missile platform, missile boat; ironclad, turret ship, ram, monitor, floating battery; first-rate, frigate, sloop of war, corvette, gunboat, bomb vessel; flagship, guard ship, cruiser; armored cruiser, protected cruiser; privateer. [supporting ships] tender; store ship, troop ship; transport, catamaran; merchant marine.