Search the Dictionary

Aggression. [Obs.]

or first act leading to a war or a controversy; unprovoked attack; assault; as, a war of aggression. "Aggressions of power." Hallam

Tending or disposed to aggress; characterized by aggression; making assaults; unjustly attacking; as, an aggressive policy, war, person, nation. -- Ag*gres"sive*ly, adv. -- Ag*gres"sive*ness, n.

The person who first attacks or makes an aggression; he who begins hostility or a quarrel; an assailant. The insolence of the aggressor is usually proportioned to the tameness of the sufferer. Ames.

Tending to aggravate. Ag*gres"sive*ly, adv. -- Ag*gres"sive*ness, n. No aggressive movement was made. Macaulay.

taking oxygen in the process of respiration; and by increasing in motive power or active aggressive force with progress to maturity.

Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon. Cowell. Blackstone.

Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.

Bold; forward; aggressive.

Making an incursion; invasive; aggressive; hostile.

Tending to invade; characterized by invasion; aggressive. "Invasive war." Hoole.

A statesman who pursues, or who favors, aggressive, domineering policy in foreign affairs. [Cant, Eng.]

ition of a neutral power, in time of war, which holds itself ready to resist by force any aggression of either belligerent.

Making the first attack; assailant; aggressive; hence, used in attacking; -- opposed to defensive; as, an offensive war; offensive weapons. League offensive and defensive, a leaque that requires all the parties to it to make war together against any foe, and to defend one another if attacked.

Aggressively haughty; arrogant; domineering; tyrannical; dictatorial; insolent. --O`ver*bear"ing*ly, adv. -- O`ver*bear"ing*ness, n.

The faculty of overcoming obstacles; aggressive energy; as, he has push, or he has no push. [Colloq.]

f authors, whose works are so soon forgotten that we are in danger of appearing the first aggressors. Swift.

, retiring upon Glasgow. Sir. W. Scott. Philip swore upon the Evangelists to abstain from aggression in my absence. Landor.