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militate

[ mil-i-teyt ]
/ ˈmɪl ɪˌteɪt /
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verb (used without object), mil·i·tat·ed, mil·i·tat·ing.
to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily: His prison record militated against him.
Obsolete.
  1. to be a soldier.
  2. to fight for a belief.
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Origin of militate

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin mīlitātus (past participle of mīlitāre “to serve as a soldier”), equivalent to mīlit- (stem of mīles ) “soldier” + -ātus verb suffix; see -ate1

words often confused with militate

See mitigate.

OTHER WORDS FROM militate

mil·i·ta·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH militate

militate , mitigate (see confusables note at mitigate)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use militate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for militate

militate
/ (ˈmɪlɪˌteɪt) /

verb
(intr; usually foll by against or for) (of facts, actions, etc) to have influence or effectthe evidence militated against his release

Derived forms of militate

militation, noun

Word Origin for militate

C17: from Latin mīlitātus, from mīlitāre to be a soldier

undefined militate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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