Combatant

/kəmˈbætənt/ noun

Definition

A person or group actively engaged in fighting or warfare.

Etymology

From French 'combattant,' from Latin 'combattere' meaning 'to fight together,' from 'com-' (together) and 'battere' (to beat). The prefix 'com-' suggests the collective nature of combat.

Kelly Says

The Latin root 'battere' (to beat) appears everywhere—combat, battery, and even 'bat' the sports equipment. Combatant uses 'com-' (together), revealing how the Romans thought of fighting: not as individuals hitting things, but as groups beating against each other.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.