Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Martial
1.
Of, pertaining to, or suited for, war; military;
“Martial equipage.” as,
martial
music; a martial
appearance. Milton.
2.
Practiced in, or inclined to, war; warlike; brave.
But peaceful kings, o’er
Each other's poise and counterbalance are.
martial
people set,Each other's poise and counterbalance are.
Dryden.
3.
Belonging to war, or to an army and navy; – opposed to
civil
; as,
martial
law; a court-martial
.4.
Pertaining to, or resembling, the god, or the planet, Mars.
Sir T. Browne.
5.
(Old Chem. & Old Med.)
Pertaining to, or containing, iron; chalybeate;
as,
. martial
preparations[Archaic]
Martial flowers
(Med.)
, a reddish crystalline salt of iron; the ammonio-chloride of iron.
[Obs.]
– Martial law
, the law administered by the military power of a government when it has superseded the civil authority in time of war, or when the civil authorities are unable to enforce the laws. It is distinguished from military law, the latter being the code of rules for the regulation of the army and navy alone, either in peace or in war.
Martial refers more to war in action, its array, its attendants, etc.; as, martial music, a martial appearance, a martial array, courts-martial, etc. Warlike describes the feeling or temper which leads to war, and the adjuncts of war; as, a warlike nation, warlike indication, etc. The two words are often used without discrimination.
Webster 1828 Edition
Martial
M`ARTIAL
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to war; suited to war; as martial equipage; martial music; a martial appearance.2.
Warlike; brave; given to war; as a martial nation or people.3.
Suited to battle; as a martial array.4.
Belonging to war, or to an army and navy; opposed to civil; as martial law; a court martial.5.
Pertaining to Mars, or borrowing the properties of that planet. The natures of the fixed start are esteemed martial or jovial, according to the colors by which they answer to those planets.
6.
Having the properties if iron, called by the old chimists, Mars.Definition 2024
Martial
Martial
See also: martial
English
Proper noun
Martial
- A male given name narrowly applied to certain historic persons (but some of its foreign cognates are modern given names).
- Saint Martial was the first bishop of Limoges circa 250
- Anglicized cognomen or given name of the Roman poet Marcus Valerius Martialis, born in Spain in the first century AD and noted for his epigrams.
Related terms
- Marcus and many descendants, e.g. Mark
- Martinus and many descendants, e.g. Martin
- martial arts
- martial law
Translations
male given name
Roman poet
Anagrams
French
Etymology
Latin Martialis. Name of a third century saint.
Proper noun
Martial m
- A male given name, in continuous use (though not particularly popular).
martial
martial
See also: Martial
English
Adjective
martial (comparative more martial, superlative most martial)
- Of, relating to, or suggestive of war; warlike.
- Dryden
- But peaceful kings, o'er martial people set, / Each other's poise and counterbalance are.
- Dryden
- Relating to or connected with the armed forces or the profession of arms or military life.
- 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, 1943, Chapter XII, p. 194,
- He was lying on the table with head pillowed on the broken concertina and body sheltered with the Federal Flag, looking like a martial corpse.
- 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, 1943, Chapter XII, p. 194,
- (comparable) Characteristic of or befitting a warrior; having a military bearing; soldierly, soldierlike, warriorlike.
- (medicine, chemistry, obsolete) Relating to, or containing, iron; chalybeate.
- martial preparations
- martial flowers: a reddish crystalline salt of iron
Derived terms
terms derived from martial (adjective)
Translations
of, relating to, or suggestive of war; warlike
relating to or connected with the armed forces or military life
characteristic of or befitting a warrior