belligerent, + belligerant

& 8. [In Fr. belligérant; Port. bel liger ante; Lat. belligerans, pr. par. of belligero = to make or carry on war; Lat. bellum = war, and gerens, pr. par. of gero = to carry, to carry on.] A. As adj .: Carrying on war. "Père Bougeant's third volume will give you the best idea of the treaty of Munster, and open to you the several views of the belligerent and contracting parties."-Lord Chesterfield. B. As substantive: 1. Literally (Ord. Lang. and Law ): A nation or a large section of a nation engaged in carrying on war. When a revolted party of great numerical strength are able to form a regular government and rule over the whole or part of the territory which they claim, humanity dictates that they should not be treated as rebels guilty of treason, but should, if captured, be regarded as prisoners of war. To attain this result, it is needful for those who have risen in arms against the government to make every effort to obtain for their party the position of belligerents. In the contest between the Federals and Confederates in the war of 1861 -1865, the latter section of the American people, at the very commencement of the struggle, claimed the privileges of belligerents. Their demand was promptly acceded to by the British Government, on which the Federal authorities took umbrage, contending that the recognition had been premature, whilst the British maintained that it could not have been refused or delayed. "Soon arose vexatious questions of maritime right, questions such as, in almost every extensive war of modern times, have arisen between belligerents and neutrals."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng ., ch. xix. +2. Fig . (Ord. Lang. only): A political, religious, or any similar party carrying on a wordy contest with another one to which it is opposed. but out of Parliament the war was fiercer than ever; and the belligerents were by no incaus scrupulous about the means which they employed."Macaulay: Hist . Eng ., ch. xviii. * běl-lig'-er-oŭs, a . [In Ital. belligero = warlike, martial, valiant; Lat. belliger = waging war, warlike; bellum = war, and gero = to carry on.] Carrying on war. (Now superseded by BELLIGERENT, q.v.) ( Bailey .) běl'-ling, pr. par. & a. [BELL, v.] †A. Trans. Putting a bell upon. B. In trans.: Taking the form of a bell. běl-ling, * běl-linge, s . [A.S. bell an = to bellow. A bellowing. (Used specially of a stag making a noise in rutting time.) "Bellinge of nette: Mugitus . "- Prompt . Parv.