Bellicose

  • 1Bellicose — Bel li*cose , a. [L. bellicosus, fr. bellicus of war, fr. bellum war. See {Duel}.] Inclined to war or contention; warlike; pugnacious. [1913 Webster] Arnold was, in fact, in a bellicose vein. W. Irving. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2bellicose — index contentious, disorderly, impertinent (insolent), inimical, insolent, litigious, malevolent, o …

    Law dictionary

  • 3bellicose — (adj.) early 15c., from L. bellicosus warlike, valorous, given to fighting, from bellicus of war, from bellum war, O.L. duellum, dvellum, of uncertain origin …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4bellicose — *belligerent, pugnacious, combative, contentious, quarrelsome Analogous words: militant, *aggressive, assertive: antagonizing or antagonistic, combating or combative (see corresponding verbs at RESIST): fighting, warring, battling, contending… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5bellicose — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ aggressive and ready to fight. DERIVATIVES bellicosity noun. ORIGIN Latin bellicosus, from bellum war …

    English terms dictionary

  • 6bellicose — [bel′i kōs΄] adj. [ME < L bellicosus < bellicus, of war < bellum, war < OL duellum: for IE base see DUEL] of a quarrelsome or hostile nature; eager to fight or quarrel; warlike SYN. BELLIGERENT bellicosely adv. bellicosity [bel΄i… …

    English World dictionary

  • 7bellicose — [[t]be̱lɪkoʊs, koʊz[/t]] ADJ GRADED You use bellicose to refer to aggressive actions or behaviour that are likely to start an argument or a fight. [LITERARY] The government is continuing its bellicose statements threatening tough action against… …

    English dictionary

  • 8bellicose — I (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. warlike, belligerent, hostile; see aggressive 2 , belligerent . See Synonym Study at belligerent . II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) a. [BEL i KOSE] belligerent, quarrelsome, warlike. He was eager to… …

    English dictionary for students

  • 9bellicose — bel|li|cose [ˈbelıkəus US kous] adj formal [Date: 1400 1500; : Latin; Origin: bellicosus, from bellum war ] behaving in a way that is likely to start an argument or fight = ↑aggressive ▪ bellicose criticism >bellicosity [ˌbelıˈkɔsıti US ˈka: ] …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10bellicose — bel|li|cose [ belıkous ] adjective FORMAL someone who is bellicose enjoys fighting or arguing: AGGRESSIVE ╾ bel|li|cos|i|ty [ ,belı kasəti ] noun uncount …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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