Mil"i*ta*rist (?), n. A military man. [Obs.] Shak.
Mil"i*ta*ry (?), a. [L. militaris, militarius, from miles, militis,
soldier: cf. F. militaire.]
1. Of or pertaining to soldiers, to arms, or to war; belonging to,
engaged in, or appropriate to, the affairs of war; as, a military
parade; military discipline; military bravery; military conduct;
military renown.
Nor do I, as an enemy to peace, Troop in the throngs of military
men.
Shak.
2. Performed or made by soldiers; as, a military election; a military
expedition. Bacon.
Military law. See Martial law, under Martial. -- Military order. (a) A
command proceeding from a military superior. (b) An association of
military persons under a bond of certain peculiar rules; especially,
such an association of knights in the Middle Ages, or a body in modern
times taking a similar form, membership of which confers some
distinction. -- Military tenure, tenure of land, on condition of
performing military service.
Mil"i*ta*ry, n. [Cf. F. militaire.] The whole body of soldiers;
soldiery; militia; troops; the army.
Mil"i*tate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Militated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Militating (?).] [L. militare, militatum, to be a soldier, fr. miles,
militis, soldier.] To make war; to fight; to contend; -- usually
followed by against and with.
These are great questions, where great names militate against each
other.
Burke.
The invisible powers of heaven seemed to militate on the side of
the pious emperor.
Gibbon.
Mi*li"tia (?), n. [L., military service, soldiery, fr. miles, militis,
soldier: cf. F. milice.]
1. In the widest sense, the whole military force of a nation, including
both those engaged in military service as a business, and those
competent and available for such service; specifically, the body of
citizens enrolled for military instruction and discipline, but not
subject to be called into actual service except in emergencies.
The king's captains and soldiers fight his battles, and yet . . .
the power of the militia is he.
Jer. Taylor.