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.
