Burton's Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006
militate — militate, mitigate The two words are sometimes confused (usually mitigate is used for militate) because both meanings are connected with having a reducing effect and their forms and rhythm are close. Mitigate is transitive (i.e. it takes an… … Modern English usage
Militate — 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. [1913 Webster] These are… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
militate — ► VERB (militate against) ▪ be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing. USAGE On the confusion between militate and mitigate, see the note at MITIGATE(Cf. ↑mitigation). ORIGIN Latin militare wage war , from miles soldier … English terms dictionary
militate — (v.) 1620s, to serve as a soldier (now rare), from L. militatum, pp. of militare serve as a soldier, from miles soldier (see MILITARY (Cf. military) (adj.)). Sense developed via conflict with, to be evidence for or against (1640s). Related:… … Etymology dictionary
militate — [mil′ə tāt΄] vi. militated, militating [< L militatus, pp. of militare: see MILITANT] 1. Archaic to serve as a soldier; fight ( against) 2. to be directed (against); operate or work ( against or, rarely, for): said of facts, evidence, actions … English World dictionary
militate — mil|i|tate [ˈmılıteıt] v militate against [militate against sth] phr v [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of militare; MILITANT] to prevent something or make it less likely to happen ▪ Environmental factors militate against… … Dictionary of contemporary English
militate — [[t]mɪ̱lɪteɪt[/t]] militates, militating, militated VERB To militate against something means to make it less possible or likely. To militate against someone means to prevent them from achieving something. [FORMAL] [V against n] Her background… … English dictionary
militate — UK [ˈmɪlɪteɪt] / US [ˈmɪlɪˌteɪt] verb Word forms militate : present tense I/you/we/they militate he/she/it militates present participle militating past tense militated past participle militated Phrasal verbs: militate against … English dictionary
militate — v. (d; intr.) to militate against (see the Usage Note for mitigate) * * * [ mɪlɪteɪt] (d; intr.) to militate against (see the Usage Note for mitigate) … Combinatory dictionary
militate — mil|i|tate [ mılı,teıt ] verb militate a,gainst phrasal verb transitive FORMAL militate against something to make something more difficult to do or less likely to happen … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
