armistice

[ahr-muh-stis]

noun

1. a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; truce.

   World War I ended with the armistice of 1918.

armistice

/ ˈɑːmɪstɪs /

noun

1. an agreement between opposing armies to suspend hostilities in order to discuss peace terms; truce

Other Word Forms

• postarmistice noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of armistice¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from French, from Medieval Latin armistitium, equivalent to Latin armi- (combining form of arma “weapons, arms, instruments of war”) + -stitium “a stopping” ( stit- being a variant stem of sistere “to stop,” and modeled on Latin solstitium “solstice”) + -ium neuter of -ius adjective and noun suffix; arm ², solstice, stand, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of armistice¹

C18: from New Latin armistitium, from Latin arma arms + sistere to stop, stand still

Example Sentences

He was captured in April 1953, three months before the armistice, and sentenced to life in prison the same year.

From BBC

The display will remain until Armistice Day on 11 November, which marks when the World War One armistice came into effect.

From BBC

By the time the fighting ended with an armistice in 1949, Israel controlled most of the territory.

From BBC

It marks the time and date when the World War One armistice came into effect.

From BBC

The day is commemorated every year to mark the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany in 1918.

From BBC

Related Words

• ceasefire 
• truce