To join battle

Join \Join\ (join), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Joined} (joind); p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Joining}.] [OE. joinen, joignen, F. joindre, fr. L.
   jungere to yoke, bind together, join; akin to jugum yoke. See
   {Yoke}, and cf. {Conjugal}, {Junction}, {Junta}.]
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   1. To bring together, literally or figuratively; to place in
      contact; to connect; to couple; to unite; to combine; to
      associate; to add; to append.
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            Woe unto them that join house to house. --Is. v. 8.
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            Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
            Like twenty torches joined.           --Shak.
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            Thy tuneful voice with numbers join.  --Dryden.
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   2. To associate one's self to; to be or become connected
      with; to league one's self with; to unite with; as, to
      join a party; to join the church.
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            We jointly now to join no other head. --Dryden.
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   3. To unite in marriage.
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            He that joineth his virgin in matrimony. --Wyclif.
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            What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not
            man put asunder.                      --Matt. xix.
                                                  6.
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   4. To enjoin upon; to command. [Obs. & R.]
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            They join them penance, as they call it. --Tyndale.
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   5. To accept, or engage in, as a contest; as, to join
      encounter, battle, issue. --Milton.
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   6. To meet with and accompany; as, we joined them at the
      restaurant.
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   7. To combine with (another person) in performing some
      activity; as, join me in welcoming our new president.
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   {To join battle}, {To join issue}. See under {Battle},
      {Issue}.

   Syn: To add; annex; unite; connect; combine; consociate;
        couple; link; append. See {Add}.
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Battle \Bat"tle\, n. [OE. bataille, bataile, F. bataille battle,
   OF., battle, battalion, fr. L. battalia, battualia, the
   fighting and fencing exercises of soldiers and gladiators,
   fr. batuere to strike, beat. Cf. {Battalia}, 1st {Battel},
   and see {Batter}, v. t. ]
   1. A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the
      divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement;
      a combat.
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   2. A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.
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            The whole intellectual battle that had at its center
            the best poem of the best poet of that day. --H.
                                                  Morley.
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   3. A division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.]
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            The king divided his army into three battles.
                                                  --Bacon.
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            The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the
            battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every
            action.                               --Robertson.
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   4. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear;
      battalia. [Obs.] --Hayward.
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   Note: Battle is used adjectively or as the first part of a
         self-explaining compound; as, battle brand, a "brand"
         or sword used in battle; battle cry; battlefield;
         battle ground; battle array; battle song.
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   {Battle piece}, a painting, or a musical composition,
      representing a battle.

   {Battle royal}.
      (a) A fight between several gamecocks, where the one that
          stands longest is the victor. --Grose.
      (b) A contest with fists or cudgels in which more than two
          are engaged; a m[^e]l['e]e. --Thackeray.

   {Drawn battle}, one in which neither party gains the victory.
      

   {To give battle}, to attack an enemy.

   {To join battle}, to meet the attack; to engage in battle.

   {Pitched battle}, one in which the armies are previously
      drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the
      forces.

   {Wager of battle}. See under {Wager}, n.
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   Syn: Conflict; encounter; contest; action.

   Usage: {Battle}, {Combat}, {Fight}, {Engagement}. These words
          agree in denoting a close encounter between contending
          parties. Fight is a word of less dignity than the
          others. Except in poetry, it is more naturally applied
          to the encounter of a few individuals, and more
          commonly an accidental one; as, a street fight. A
          combat is a close encounter, whether between few or
          many, and is usually premeditated. A battle is
          commonly more general and prolonged. An engagement
          supposes large numbers on each side, engaged or
          intermingled in the conflict.
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