ARMISTICE. A cessation of hostilities between belligerent nations for a
considerable time. It is either partial and local, or general. It differs
from a mere suspension of arms which takes place to enable the two armies to
bury their dead, their chiefs to hold conferences or pourparlers, and the
like. Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. 3, c. 16, Sec. 233. The terms truce,
(q.v.)
and armistice, are sometimes used in the same sense. Vide Truce.