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 — I verb act on, affect, agitate, bring about change, carry on, contra rem facere, contrive, control, deal with, direct, engineer, handle, have effect on, have influence on, influence, interfere, manage, maneuver, manipulate, meddle, mold, operate … Law 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
