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etc.; to overcome; to suppress. The point of reputation, when the news first came of the battle lost, did overbear the reason of war. Bacon. Overborne with weight the Cyprians fell. Dryden. They are not so ready to overbear the adversary who goes out of his own country to meet them. Jowett (Thucyd. )…

To get the better of; to surmount; to conquer; to subdue; as, to overcome enemies in battle. This wretched woman overcome Of anguish, rather than of crime, hath been. Spenser.

legal holiday in the States of Massachusetts and Maine, April 19, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington in 1775. It was first observed in 1894. [U. S.]

The song or shout of praise, of battle, or of triumph. [R.]

d to those airs that are played on the bagpipe before the Highlanders when they go out to battle. Jamieson.

An indoor modification of lawn tennis played with small bats, or battledores, and a very light, hollow, celluloid ball, on a large table divided across the middle by a net.

To set or fix, as a price or value. [Obs.] Shak. Pitched battle, a general battle; a battle in which the hostile forces have fixed positions; -- in distinction from a skirmish. -- To pitch into, to attack; to assault; to abuse. [Slang]

the nature of a pivot; as, the pivotalopportunity of a career; the pivotal position in a battle.

Not much varied by modulations; as, a plain tune. Plain battle, open battle; pitched battle. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Plain chant (Mus.) Same as Plain song, below. -- Plain chart (Naut.), a chart laid down on Mercator's projection. -- Plain dealer. (a) One who practices plain dealing. (b) A simpleton. [Obs.] Shak. -- Pla…

Hence, to direct the attention or notice of. Whosoever should be guided through his battles by Minerva, and pointed to every scene of them. Pope.

Anciently, a kind of battle-ax with a long handle; later, an ax or hatchet with a short handle, and a head variously patterned; -- used by soldiers, and also by sailors in boarding a vessel.

Ready; prompt; prepared. [Obs.] All prest to such battle he was. R. of Gloucester.

rt my pris, or may prey, by deliberation. Chaucer. His own prize, Whom formerly he had in battle won. Spenser.

an-of- war. -- To give, or show, quarter (Mil.), to accept as prisoner, on submission in battle; to forbear to kill, as a vanquished enemy. -- To keep quarter. See Quarter, n., 3.

Crying for mercy, as a combatant in the trial by battle; yielding; cowardly; mean-spirited; craven. "This recreant knight." Spenser.

Flowing back; returning; ebbing. Cowper. And refluent through the pass of fear The battle's tide was poured. Sir W. Scott.

d archibishop did present his majesty to the lords and commons. Fuller. After the toil of battle to repose Your wearied virtue. Milton.

A body of troops in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.

To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle. Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 2 Sam. xi. 15.

gain to the same place or condition. "Return to your father's house." Chaucer. On their embattled ranks the waves return. Milton. If they returned out of bondage, it must be into a state of freedom. Locke. Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen. iii. 19.