Militia
[mɪ'lɪʃə] or [mə'lɪʃə]
Definition
(noun.) civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army.
(noun.) the entire body of physically fit civilians eligible by law for military service; 'their troops were untrained militia'; 'Congress shall have power to provide for calling forth the militia'--United States Constitution.
Editor: Lucius--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) In the widest sense, the whole military force of a nation, including both those engaged in military service as a business, and those competent and available for such service; specifically, the body of citizens enrolled for military instruction and discipline, but not subject to be called into actual service except in emergencies.
(n.) Military service; warfare.
Edited by Cathryn
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Trainband.
Inputed by Lennon
Definition
n. a body of men enrolled and drilled as soldiers but only liable to home service: (U.S.) the whole body of citizens capable of bearing arms.—n. Milit′iaman a man or soldier in the militia force.
Checker: Roberta
Examples
- The Florentine militia he created was a complete failure. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The principal purport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved on quitting the militia. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- Brighton, and a whole campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor regiment of militia, and the monthly balls of Meryton! Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- That standing army was afterwards carried to Africa, where it found nothing but a militia to oppose it. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- I have often seen the militia of Lorbrulgrud drawn out to exercise, in a great field near the city of twenty miles square. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- The Highland militia, when it served under its own chieftains, had some advantage of the same kind. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- A well regulated standing army is superior to every militia. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- When Asdrubal had left Spain, the great Scipio found nothing to oppose him but a militia inferior to his own. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- It was whispered that Lyon thus reinforced intended to break up Camp Jackson and capture the militia. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- The disheartened and frequently defeated African militia joined it, and, at the battle of Zama, composed the greater part of the troops of Annibal. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The Roman armies which Annibal encountered at Trebi, Thrasymenus, and Cannae, were militia opposed to a standing army. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- He quitted the militia and engaged in trade, having brothers already established in a good way in London, which afforded him a favourable opening. Jane Austen. Emma.
- There was a considerable force of State militia at Camp Jackson, on the outskirts of St. Louis, at the time. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- In other countries, the militia has not only been exercised, but regimented. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The militias of some barbarous nations defended themselves much better. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The Parthian and German militias, too, were always respectable, and upon several occasions, gained very considerable advantages over the Roman armies. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
Checker: Noelle