Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Fight
Fight
(fīt)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Fought
(fa̤t)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fighting
.] [OE.
fihten
, fehten
, AS. feohtan
; akin to D. vechten
, OHG. fehtan
, G. fechten
, Sw. fäkta
, Dan. fegte
, and perh. to E. fist
; cf. L. pugnare
to fight, pugnus
fist.] 1.
To strive or contened for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; – followed by with or against.
You do
fight
against your country’s foes. Shakespeare
To
fight
with thee no man of arms will deign. Milton.
2.
To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance.
To fight shy
, to avoid meeting fairly or at close quarters; to keep out of reach.
Fight
,Verb.
T.
1.
To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause.
He had to
fight
his way through the world. Macaulay.
I have
fought
a good fight. 2 Tim. iv. 7.
2.
To contend with in battle; to war against;
as, they
fought
the enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop fought
the frigate for three hours.3.
To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight;
as, to
fight
cocks; to fight
one's ship.To fight it out
, to fight until a decisive and conclusive result is reached.
1.
A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a combat; a violent conflict or struggle for victory, between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies, etc.
Who now defies thee thrice to single
fight
. Milton.
2.
A struggle or contest of any kind.
3.
Strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity;
as, he has a great deal of
. fight
in him[Colloq.]
4.
A screen for the combatants in ships.
[Obs.]
Up with your
fights
, and your nettings prepare. Dryden.
Syn. – Combat; engagement; contest; struggle; encounter; fray; affray; action; conflict. See
Battle
. Webster 1828 Edition
Fight
FIGHT
, v.i.1.
To strive or contend for victory, in battle or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms.Come and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon. Judges. 11.
When two persons or parties contend in person, fight is usually followed by with. But when we speak of carrying on war, in any other form, we may say, to fight against.
Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side. 1Sam. 14.
Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath.
2Kings 12.
It is treason for a man to join an enemy to fight against his country.
To fight against, is to act in opposition; to oppose; to strive to conquer or resist.
The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. Judges 5.
2.
To contend; to strive; to struggle to resist or check.3.
To act as a soldier.FIGHT
, v.t.1.
To carry on contention; to maintain a struggle for victory over enemies.I have fought a good fight. 2Tim. 4.
2.
To contend with in battle; to war against. They fought the enemy in two pitched battles. The captain fought the frigate seven glasses. [Elliptical; with being understood.]FIGHT
, n.1.
A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a struggle for victory, either between individuals, or between armies, ships or navies. A duel is called a single fight or combat.2.
Something to screen the combatants in ships.Up with your fights and your nettings prepare.