— combatable , adj.
v. /keuhm bat", kom"bat, kum"-/ ; n. /kom"bat, kum"-/ , v. , combated, combating or ( esp. Brit. ) combatted, combatting , n.
v.t.
1. to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously: to combat crime.
v.i.
2. to battle; contend: to combat with disease.
n.
3. Mil. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
4. a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas.
[ 1535-45; combat (n.), combattre (v.) combattere, equiv. to L com- COM- + LL battere, for L battuere to strike, beat ]
Syn. 1, 2. struggle, contest.