English words and phrases

horde, posse, phalanx; family, clan, &c 166; team; tong.

council &c 696.

community, body, fellowship, sodality, solidarity; confraternity; familistere^†, familistery^†; brotherhood, sisterhood.

knot, gang, clique, ring, circle, group, crowd, in-crowd; coterie, club, casino^†; machine; Tammany, Tammany Hall [U.S.].

corporation, corporate body, guild; establishment, company; copartnership^†, partnership; firm, house; joint concern, joint-stock company; cahoot, combine [U.S.], trust.

society, association; institute, institution; union; trades union; league, syndicate, alliance, Verein [G.], Bund [G.], Zollverein [G.], combination; Turnverein [G.]; league offensive and defensive, alliance offensive and defensive; coalition; federation; confederation, confederacy; junto, cabal, camarilla^†, camorra^†, brigue^†; freemasonry; party spirit &c (cooperation) 709.

Confederates, Conservatives, Democrats, Federalists, Federals, Freemason, Knight Templar; Kuklux, Kuklux Klan, KKK; Liberals, Luddites, Republicans, Socialists, Tories, Whigs &c staff; dramatis personae [Lat.].

variance, difference, dissension, misunderstanding, cross purposes, odds, brouillerie [Fr.]; division, split, rupture, disruption, division in the camp, house divided against itself, disunion, breach; schism &c (dissent) 489; feud, faction.

quarrel, dispute, tiff, tracasserie^†, squabble, altercation, barney [Slang], demel_e, snarl, spat, towrow^†, words, high words; wrangling &c v.; jangle, brabble^†, cross questions and crooked answers, snip-snap; family jars.

polemics; litigation; strife &c (contention) 720; warfare &c 722; outbreak, open rupture, declaration of war.

broil, brawl, row, racket, hubbub, rixation^†; embroilment, embranglement^†, imbroglio, fracas, breach of the peace, piece of work [Fr.], scrimmage, rumpus; breeze, squall; riot, disturbance &c (disorder) 59; commotion &c (agitation) 315; bear garden, Donnybrook, Donnybrook Fair.

subject of dispute, ground of quarrel, battle ground, disputed point; bone of contention, bone to pick; apple of discord, casus belli [Lat.]; question at issue &c (subject of inquiry) 461; vexed question, vexata quaestio [Lat.], brand of discord.

troublous times^†; cat-and-dog life; contentiousness &c adj.; enmity &c 889; hate &c 898; Kilkenny cats; disputant &c 710; strange bedfellows.

V. be discordant &c adj.; disagree, come amiss &c 24; clash, jar, jostle, pull different ways, conflict, have no measures with, misunderstand one another; live like cat and dog; differ; dissent &c 489; have a bone to pick, have a crow to pluck with.

fall out, quarrel, dispute; litigate; controvert &c (deny) 536; squabble, wrangle, jangle, brangle^†, bicker, nag; spar &c (contend) 720; have words &c n.. with; fall foul of.

split; break with, break squares with, part company with; declare war, try conclusions; join issue, put in issue; pick a quarrel, fasten a quarrel on; sow dissension, stir up dissension &c n.; embroil, entangle, disunite, widen the breach; set at odds, set together by the ears; set against, pit against.

get into hot water, fish in troubled waters, brawl; kick up a row, kick up a dust; turn the house out of window.

quarrelsome, unpacific^†; gladiatorial, controversial, polemic, disputatious; factious; litigious, litigant; pettifogging.

at odds, at loggerheads, at daggers drawn, at variance, at issue, at cross purposes, at sixes and sevens, at feud, at high words; up in arms, together by the ears, in hot water, embroiled.

torn, disunited.

rapprochement; reunion; amity &c (friendship) 888; alliance, entente cordiale [Fr.], good understanding, conciliation, peacemaker; intercessor, mediator.

side with, sympathize with, go with, chime in with, fall in with; come round; be pacified &c 723; assent &c 488; empathize with, enter into the ideas of, enter into the feelings of; reciprocate.

hurler avec les loups [Fr.]; go with the stream, swim with the stream.

keep in good humor, render accordant, put in tune; come to an understanding, meet halfway; keep the peace, remain at peace.

at peace, in still water; tranquil &c (pacific) 721.

chest-beating, chest-thumping; saber rattling.

show fight, show one's teeth, show a bold front; bluster, look big, stand akimbo, beat one's chest; double the fist, shake the fist; threaten &c 909.

challenge, call out; throw down the gauntlet, fling down the gauntlet, fling down the gage, fling down the glove, throw down the glove.

Adj. defiant; defying &c v.. with 'with arms akimbo'.

Adv. in defiance of, in the teeth of; under one's very nose.

Int. do your worst!, come if you dare!, come on!, marry come up!, hoity toity!^†,

Phr. noli me tangere [Lat.]; nemo me impune lacessit [Lat.]; don't tread on me; don't you dare; don't even think of it; Go ahead, make my day! [Dirty Harry].
716. Attack -- N. attack; assault, assault and battery; onset, onslaught, charge.

aggression, offense; incursion, inroad, invasion; irruption; outbreak; estrapade^†, ruade^†; coupe de main, sally, sortie, camisade^†, raid, foray; run at, run against; dead set at.

storm, storming; boarding, escalade^†; 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^†, carte and tierce [Fr.], home thrust; coupe de bec [Fr.]; kick, punch &c (impulse) 276.

battue^†, razzia^†, Jacquerie, dragonnade^†; devastation &c 162; eboulement [Fr.].

assailant, aggressor, invader.

base of operations, point of attack; echelon.

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^†, 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.

up in arms.

area defense; site defense.

self-defense, self-preservation; resistance &c 719.

safeguard &c (safety) 664; balistraria^†; bunker, screen &c (shelter) 666; camouflage &c (concealment) 530; fortification; munition, muniment^†; trench, foxhole; bulwark, fosse^†, moat, ditch, entrenchment, intrenchment^†; kila^†; dike, dyke; parapet, sunk fence, embankment, mound, mole, bank, sandbag, revetment; earth work, field-work; fence, wall dead wall, contravallation^†; paling &c (inclosure) 232; palisade, haha, stockade, stoccado^†, laager^†, sangar^†; barrier, barricade; boom; portcullis, chevaux de frise [Fr.]; abatis, abattis^†, abbatis^†; vallum^†, circumvallation^†, battlement, rampart, scarp; escarp^†, counter-scarp; glacis, casemate^†; vallation^†, vanfos^†.

buttress, abutment; shore &c (support) 215.

breastwork, banquette, curtain, mantlet^†, bastion, redan^†, ravelin^†; vauntmure^†; advance work, horn work, outwork; barbacan^†, barbican; redoubt; fort-elage [Fr.], fort-alice; lines.

loophole, machicolation^†; sally port.

hold, stronghold, fastness; asylum &c (refuge) 666; keep, donjon, dungeon, fortress, citadel, capitol, castle; tower of strength, tower of strength; fort, barracoon^†, pah^†, sconce, martello tower^†, peelhouse^†, blockhouse, rath^†; wooden walls.

bearskin; panoply; truncheon &c (weapon) 727.

garrison, picket, piquet; defender, protector; guardian &c (safety) 664; bodyguard, champion; knight-errant, Paladin; propugner^†.

bulletproof window.

hardened site.

V. defend, forfend, fend; shield, screen, shroud; engarrison^†; fend round &c (circumscribe) 229; fence, entrench, intrench^†; 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^†, put to flight; give a warm reception to [Iron.]; 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^†; iron-plated, ironclad; loopholed, castellated, machicolated^†, casemated^†; defended &c v.; proof against.

armored, ballproof^†, bulletproof; hardened.

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.

lite resolvit [Lat.] [Horace].

insurrection &c (disobedience) 742; strike; turn out, lock out, barring out; levee en masse [Fr.], Jacquerie; riot &c (disorder) 59.

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^†, 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 [Fr.], take the bit between the teeth; sell one's life dearly, die hard, keep at bay; repel, repulse.

repulsive, repellant.

proof against; unconquerable &c (strong) 159; stubborn, unconquered; indomitable &c (persevering) 604.1; unyielding &c (obstinate) 606.

Int. hands off!, keep off!,
720. Contention -- N. contention, strife; contest, contestation^†; struggle; belligerency; opposition &c 708.

controversy, polemics; debate &c (discussion) 476; war of words, logomachy^†, litigation; paper war; high words &c (quarrel) 713; sparring &c v.. competition, rivalry; corrivalry^†, corrivalship^†, agonism^†, concours^†, match, race, horse racing, heat, steeple chase, handicap; regatta; field day; sham fight, Derby day; turf, sporting, bullfight, tauromachy^†, gymkhana^†; boat race, torpids^†.

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^†, gymnastics; jiujitsu, jujutsu, kooshti^†, sumo; athletics, athletic sports; games of skill &c 840.

shindy^†; fracas &c (discord) 713; clash of arms; tussle, scuffle, broil, fray; affray, affrayment^†; velitation^†; colluctation^†, luctation^†; brabble^†, brigue^†, scramble, melee, scrimmage, stramash^†, bushfighting^†.

free fight, stand up fight, hand to hand, running fight.

conflict, skirmish; rencounter^†, encounter; rencontre^†, collision, affair, brush, fight; battle, battle royal; combat, action, engagement, joust, tournament; tilt, tilting [Mediev.]; tournay^†, list; pitched battle.

death struggle, struggle for life or death, life or death struggle, Armageddon^†.

hard knocks, sharp contest, tug of war.

naval engagement, naumachia^†, sea fight.

duel, duello [It]; single combat, monomachy^†, satisfaction, passage d'armes [Fr.], passage of arms, affair of honor; triangular duel; hostile meeting, digladiation^†; 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^†, tussle, tilt, box, stave, fence; skirmish; pickeer^†; fight &c (war) 722; wrangle &c (quarrel) 713.

contend with &c, 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^†, 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^†, emulate, rival; run a race; contend for &c, stipulate for, stickle for; insist upon, make a point of.

Adj. contending &c v.; together by the ears, at loggerheads.

at war.

competitive, rival; belligerent; contentious, combative, bellicose, unpeaceful^†; warlike &c 722; quarrelsome &c 901; pugnacious; pugilistic, gladiatorial; palestric^†, palestrical^†.

piping time of peace, quiet life; neutrality.

pax Romana [Lat.]; Pax Americana [Lat.].

make peace &c 723.

dovish

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^†; generalship; soldiership; logistics; military evolutions, ballistics, gunnery; chivalry.

gunpowder, shot.

battle, tug of war &c (contention) 720; service, campaigning, active service, tented field; kriegspiel [G.], Kriegsspiel [G.]; fire cross, trumpet, clarion, bugle, pibroch^†, 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.]; open war, internecine war, civil war.