INSURGENT

One who participates in an insurrection; one who opposes the execution of law by force of arms, or who rises in revolt against the constituted authorities. A distinction is often taken between "insurgent" and "rebel,'' in this: that the former term is not nece arily ·to be taken in a bad sense, inasmuch as an insurrection, though extralegal, may be just an.d timely in itself; as where it is undertaken for the overthrow of tyranny or the reform. of gro . abu.ses. 4-ccording to Webster, an rnsurrection JS an lll• cipient or early stage of a rebellion. INSURRECTION, A rebellion, or rising of citizens or subjects in resistance to their government. See [s. 649]