milit-
(Latin: soldier, fight; soldiers of war; war, warfare)
1. Engaged in the life of a soldier; belonging to the army: "Sam's uncle has had a long career in the military."
2. Adapted to or connected with a state of war as distinguished from organizations that are civilian, ecclesiastical, etc.
2. Adapted to or connected with a state of war as distinguished from organizations that are civilian, ecclesiastical, etc.
military (adjective), more military, most military
1. Pertaining to soldiers; that is, used, performed, or brought about by soldiers; befitting a soldier.
2. A reference to the armed forces or to the army, air force, marines, etc.
2. A reference to the armed forces or to the army, air force, marines, etc.
military police, MP (pl) (noun)
Soldiers who are responsible for law and order in the armed forces: "Most military organizations have military policemen and military policewomen, who function to make sure that military rules are enforced on their bases."
A strong swelling, increase, or rush of members of the armed forces into a specified area: "Pakistani military leaders believe that the current military surge will be the last push before the U.S. begins a face-saving troop drawdown."
militate (verb), militates; militated; militating
1. To have a substantial effect upon; to weigh heavily: Bob's lack of training as a machinist will militate against his application to work in a garage.
2. To be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing something: Unfortunately, Shirley believed that the fact that she had a heavy foreign accent was militating against her getting a job as a translator.
3. To have an influence, especially a negative one, on something: The rapidly increasing price of fuel militated against Helen's plans to build and to maintain a greenhouse during the winter.
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2. To be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing something: Unfortunately, Shirley believed that the fact that she had a heavy foreign accent was militating against her getting a job as a translator.
3. To have an influence, especially a negative one, on something: The rapidly increasing price of fuel militated against Helen's plans to build and to maintain a greenhouse during the winter.
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militate, mitigate
militate (MIL uh tayt") (verb)
1. To have an influence, especially a negative one, on something to make it unlikely to happen or to prevent it from happening: Bill's inexperience will militate against him getting an early promotion.
2. To have weight or an effect on something; to serve as a strong influence: Danny's youthful appearance can only militate against him getting into a high position in the company, at least for now.
2. To have weight or an effect on something; to serve as a strong influence: Danny's youthful appearance can only militate against him getting into a high position in the company, at least for now.
mitigate (MIT uh gayt") (verb)
1. To make an offense or crime less serious or more excusable: The lawyer tried to mitigate the circumstances of his client's crime so the punishment or penalty would be reduced, because evidence was produced that encouraged and enabled the judge to be more lenient.
2. To make something less harsh, severe, or violent; to moderate in force or intensity: There's no way to mitigate the effect of that unfavorable report.
2. To make something less harsh, severe, or violent; to moderate in force or intensity: There's no way to mitigate the effect of that unfavorable report.
These two often-confused words have different, mutually exclusive meanings and they function in different ways.
Militate does not take a noun object, but is followed by a preposition, often "against", plus a noun. It means "to have an influence, especially a negative one, on something": "Trade sanctions militate [not mitigate] against international cooperation."
Mitigate needs a noun object and means "to lessen the impact or degree of seriousness of something undesirable"; for example, "A six-month suspended sentence unfairly mitigates the seriousness of a vehicular homicide. There were mitigating circumstances beyond his control."
1. An army of soldiers who are civilians but take armed forces training and can serve full-time during emergencies.
2. A reserve army that is not part of the regular armed forces but can be called up to serve in an emergency.
3. An unauthorized group of people who arm themselves and conduct quasi-military training.
2. A reserve army that is not part of the regular armed forces but can be called up to serve in an emergency.
3. An unauthorized group of people who arm themselves and conduct quasi-military training.
nonmilitary (adjective) (not comparable)
Not associated with soldiers or the military.
1. Similar to or modeled like an army but not belonging to it.
2. Organized group that is staffed by civilians to provide support for regular army services; such as, a paramilitary unit.
2. Organized group that is staffed by civilians to provide support for regular army services; such as, a paramilitary unit.
paramilitary (adjective), more paramilitary, most paramilitary
1. A reference to the use of weapons and tactics to fight within a country against an official ruling power.
4. Relating to a group of civilians organized to function like (or in aid of) a military unit.
4. Relating to a group of civilians organized to function like (or in aid of) a military unit.
The act of equipping and preparing for another war.
remilitarize (verb), remilitarizes; remilitarized; remilitarizing
To prepare armed forces for a war again: In order to be prepared for another aggressive behavior by a potentially negative military force, some countries have periods when they remilitarize their soldiers in order to keep them up-to-date and ready for any necessary action.
ultramilitant (adjective), more ultramilitant, most ultramilitant
1. Militant to an extreme.
2. Someone who is extremely militant.
2. Someone who is extremely militant.
unmilitary (adjective), more unmilitary, most unmilitary
1. Not according to armed forces rules or customs.
2. Not associated with soldiers.
2. Not associated with soldiers.
An ancient Roman road which had large blocks of stones with two lanes: "The Via militaris was constructed in order to provide more efficient means for the overland movement of Roman armies, officials, and civilians."
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