Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To prepare for battle; array.
  • transitive verb To furnish with battlements for defense.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To prepare or array for battle; arrange in order of battle.
  • To form in order of battle.
  • noun In heraldry, a merlon, or a single one of the series of solid projections of a battlement. See cut under battlement.
  • To furnish with battlements; give the form of battlements to: used chiefly in the past participle.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To arrange in order of battle; to array for battle; also, to prepare or arm for battle; to equip as for battle.
  • transitive verb To furnish with battlements.
  • intransitive verb obsolete To be arrayed for battle.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To arrange in order of battle; to array for battle; also, to prepare or arm for battle; to equip as for battle.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb prepare for battle or conflict
  • verb fortify by furnishing with battlements for defense

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English embataillen, from Old French embataillier : en-, in; see en– + bataillier, to battle (from bataille, battle; see battle).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French embataillier; pref. em- (Latin in) + French bataille, battle.

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Examples

  • They embattle the victim regime, driving power and money to its ruling cadres.

    Simon Jenkins: Why Is Britain Ramping Up Sanctions Against Iran? Simon Jenkins 2012

  • They embattle the victim regime, driving power and money to its ruling cadres.

    Simon Jenkins: Why Is Britain Ramping Up Sanctions Against Iran? Simon Jenkins 2012

  • I will tell you, it's warm -- heartwarming, because I see this tremendous, tremendous effusion of friendship towards Israel as a sister democracy, yes, often embattled by these dark forces of terrorism that embattle all of us.

    CNN Transcript Sep 22, 2009 2009

  • Following the old tactic of dumping bad political news on Fridays, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced that embattle DWP General Manager H.

    Archive 2009-10-01 2009

  • In 2005 the Bush administration played an essential role in securing the now imperiled CPA and a fragile peace between the North and the embattle Southern Sudan.

    Mia Farrow: All Three U.S. Presidential Candidates Step Up for Darfur 2008

  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban was removed from power, but it was done in a way that leaves them on the map, continuing to embattle the government we installed to replace them, and our primary focus, the top echelon of the Al Qaida terrorist ring, continues to elude capture.

    Quote of the Day 2004

  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban was removed from power, but it was done in a way that leaves them on the map, continuing to embattle the government we installed to replace them, and our primary focus, the top echelon of the Al Qaida terrorist ring, continues to elude capture.

    Quote of the day 2004

  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban was removed from power, but it was done in a way that leaves them on the map, continuing to embattle the government we installed to replace them, and our primary focus, the top echelon of the Al Qaida terrorist ring, continues to elude capture.

    Archive 2004-05-01 2004

  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban was removed from power, but it was done in a way that leaves them on the map, continuing to embattle the government we installed to replace them, and our primary focus, the top echelon of the Al Qaida terrorist ring, continues to elude capture.

    R-E-S-P-E-C-T 2004

  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban was removed from power, but it was done in a way that leaves them on the map, continuing to embattle the government we installed to replace them, and our primary focus, the top echelon of the Al Qaida terrorist ring, continues to elude capture.

    The case was long since made. 2004

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