I. ˈd(y)ü]əl, -u̇]əl also -ü]l, chiefly Brit ](ˌ)il noun
( -s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin duellum (influenced in meaning by folk etymological association with Latin duo two), from Latin, war (poetical variant of bellum ), from Old Latin; perhaps akin to Greek daiein to ignite, burn up — more at two , teen
1. : a combat between two persons:
a. obsolete : personal combat to determine a trial by battle
b. : a prearranged formal combat with deadly weapons fought between two persons in the presence of witnesses usually as a result of an injury done or an insult given by one to the other — compare principal II, second II
2. : a conflict between persons, ideas, or forces that are antagonistic
when the long-drawn-out duel … ended in a war — W.J.Hail
artillery duel
a duel between the two emotions of repugnance and duty — Hilaire Belloc
II. verb
( dueled or duelled ; dueled or duelled ; dueling or duelling ; duels )
intransitive verb
: to fight a duel
transitive verb
: to encounter (an opponent) in a duel