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v. com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing, com·bats or com·bat·ted or com·bat·ting v.tr. 1. To oppose in battle; fight against. 2. To act or work in order to eliminate, curtail, or stop: efforts to combat crime; drugs that combat infection. See Synonyms at oppose. v.intr. Archaic To engage in fighting; contend or struggle. n. (kŏmbăt′) 1. Fighting, especially with weapons: naval combat. 2. Contention or strife: rhetorical combat. adj. (kŏmbăt′) 1. Of or relating to combat: flew 50 combat missions. 2. Intended for use or deployment in combat: combat boots; combat troops. [French combattre, from Old French, from Late Latin combattere : Latin com-, com- + Latin battere, to beat (alteration of battuere).] |
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