English Lexicon

War cry

/ˈwɔːr kraɪ/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #14250 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A loud shout or call used by soldiers to rally or intimidate before or during battle.

    "The warriors raised their war-cry as they charged into battle."
  2. 2

    A phrase or slogan used to inspire or motivate a group, often in a competitive context.

    "The team's war-cry echoed through the stadium, energizing the fans."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term derives from Middle English, combining 'war' (from Old English 'wīr' and Old High German 'wérra') and 'cry' (from Old French 'crier'). Historically, it originated as a literal battle shout or slogan used by combatants to rally troops and intimidate enemies before or during combat.

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