— belligerently , adv.
/beuh lij"euhr euhnt/ , adj.
1. warlike; given to waging war.
2. of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose: a belligerent tone.
3. waging war; engaged in war: a peace treaty between belligerent powers.
4. pertaining to war or to those engaged in war: belligerent rights.
n.
5. a state or nation at war.
6. a member of the military forces of such a state.
[ 1570-80; belliger waging war ( belli-, comb. form of bellum war + ger-, base of gerere to conduct) + -ENT; r. belligerant belligerant- (s. of belligerans, prp. of belligerare to wage war; see -ANT) ]
Syn. 2. pugnacious, truculent, combative, quarrelsome, antagonistic, contentious.