Fight (fīt), v. i. [imp.
& p. p. Fought (f&add;t); p. pr. & vb.
n. Fighting.] [OE. fihten, fehten, AS.
feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G.
fechten, Sw. fäkta, Dan. fegte, and perh.
to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare to fight, pugnus
fist.] 1. To strive or contend for victory, with
armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy
an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; -- followed
by with or against.
You do fight against your country's
foes.
Shak.
To fight with thee no man of arms will
deign.
Milton.
2. To act in opposition to anything; to
struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make
resistance.
To fight shy, to avoid meeting fairly or at
close quarters; to keep out of reach.
Fight, v. t. 1. To
carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by
struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause.
He had to fight his way through the
world.
Macaulay.
I have fought a good fight.
2
Tim. iv. 7.
2. To contend with in battle; to war against;
as, they fought the enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop
fought the frigate for three hours.
3. To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver
in a fight; as, to fight cocks; to fight one's
ship.
To fight it out, to fight until a decisive
and conclusive result is reached.
Fight, n. [OE. fight,
feht, AS. feoht. See Fight, v.
i.] 1. A battle; an engagement; a
contest in arms; a combat; a violent conflict or struggle for
victory, between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies,
etc.
Who now defies thee thrice to single
fight.
Milton.
2. A struggle or contest of any
kind.
3. Strength or disposition for fighting;
pugnacity; as, he has a great deal of fight in him.
[Colloq.]
4. A screen for the combatants in
ships. [Obs.]
Up with your fights, and your nettings
prepare.
Dryden.
Running fight, a fight in which the enemy is
continually chased; also, one which continues without definite end or
result.
Syn. -- Combat; engagement; contest; struggle; encounter;
fray; affray; action; conflict. See Battle.
