Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
[ad_1] noun, plural ar·mies.
- the military forces of a nation, exclusive of the navy and in some countries the air force.
- (in large military land forces) a unit consisting typically of two or more corps and a headquarters.
- a large body of persons trained and armed for war.
- any body of persons organized for any purpose: an army of census takers.
- a very large number or group of something; a great multitude; a host: the army of the unemployed.
noun plural -mies
- the military land forces of a nation
- a military unit usually consisting of two or more corps with supporting arms and services
- (modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of an armyarmy rations
- any large body of people united for some specific purpose
- a large number of people, animals, etc; multitude
late 14c., “armed expedition,” from Old French armée (14c.) “armed troop, armed expedition,” from Medieval Latin armata “armed force,” from Latin armata, fem. of armatus “armed, equipped, in arms,” past participle of armare “to arm,” literally “act of arming,” related to arma “tools, arms” (see arm (n.2)). Originally used of expeditions on sea or land; the specific meaning “land force” first recorded 1786. Transferred meaning “host, multitude” is c.1500.
The Old English words were here (still preserved in derivatives like harrier), from PIE *kor- “people, crowd;” and fierd, with an original sense of “expedition,” from faran “travel.” In spite of etymology, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, here generally meant “invading Vikings” and fierd was used for the local militias raised to fight them.