martial Hear it!

martial Definition

mar·tial (mär′s̸həl)

adjective

  1. of or suitable for war martial songs
  2. showing a readiness or eagerness to fight; warlike
  3. of the army, the navy, or military life; military

Etymology: ME martialle < L martialis, of Mars

martial Related Forms
mar′·tial·ism′ noun mar′·tial·ist noun mar′·tially adverb
Martial Definition

Mar·tial (mär′s̸həl)

(Marcus Valerius Martialis) 40?-104?; Rom. epigrammatist & poet, born in Spain

martial Synonyms

martial

modif.

military, warlike, soldierly, combative; see military. See syn. study at military.

martial Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • not: This is not martial law, only another path toward democracy.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • face: Many soldiers facing courts martial have to wait up to a year to be tried.
  • attend: So I had to attend a court martial of the sergeant in charge, to give my version of events.
  • await: The man is in military detention in Port Moresby awaiting court martial, reports The Post-Courier.

Modifies a noun

  • art: By learning a martial art for self defense, you are still training to win the upper hand in a physical contest.
  • arts: MARTIAL ARTS: Owens does we... MARTIAL ARTS: Bretton young... MARTIAL ARTS: British Open.. .
  • artist: Is the audience large or small, mainly martial artists or mainly virgins?
  • prowess: His martial arts prowess is enhanced by the suit, making him a deadly opponent in hand to hand combat.
  • law: The next day martial law was declared across the island.
  • instructor: All styles of martial arts instructors will be able to adapt the Lil ' Dragon to their style with ease.

Used with adjective complement

  • court: Do you offer legal ( or courts martial ) advice?
martial Quotes

In enterprise of martial kind, When there was any fighting, He led his regiment from behindö He found it less exciting. But when away his regiment ran, His place was at the fore,Oö That celebrated, Cultivated Underrated Nobleman, The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

The Frenchhad a moremartial air thanthe English.There seemed to be a species of military instinct in all classes. No young man appeared to have finished his education till after a bloody campaign† They were at this singular period, without the least exaggeration, a century behind us in notions of legal and moral responsibility.

—Haydon, Benjamin Robert

Neither will it be, that a people overlaid with taxes should ever become valiant and martial.

—Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans