belligerently
|be-lig-er-ent-ly|
🇺🇸
/bəˈlɪdʒərənt/
🇬🇧
/bəˈlɪdʒ(ə)rənt/
(belligerent)
hostile and aggressive
Etymology
'belligerent' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'belligerāre' or participial stem 'belligerant-', where 'bellum' meant 'war' and 'gerere' meant 'to carry, to wage.'
'belligerant-' in Latin (present-participle sense 'waging war') passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin and via French 'belligerant' or directly into English, becoming the modern English word 'belligerent' in the 17th century; the adverb 'belligerently' is formed from the adjective plus '-ly.'
Initially it meant 'waging war' (literal combatant sense); over time it broadened to mean 'hostile or aggressive' in behavior or attitude, and also retained a formal legal sense of being engaged in war.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
noun form (typically plural 'belligerents'): a person, group, or nation engaged in war or conflict.
Both belligerents agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
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Adjective 1
adjective form (of the base form 'belligerent'): hostile, aggressive, or eager to fight; also used in law to mean engaged in war.
The manager's belligerent attitude made negotiations difficult.
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Adverb 1
in a hostile, aggressive, or combative manner; in a way that shows readiness to fight or argue.
She responded belligerently when they questioned her motives.
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Last updated: 2025/10/14 16:34