Meaning of duel in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈd(j)uəl/

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  1. Verb

    duel

    Definitions

    1. fight a duel, as over one's honor or a woman

    Examples

    • « In the 19th century, men often dueled over small matters »

    Derived terms

  2. Noun

    duel

    Etymology

    late 15th century: from Latin duellum, archaic and literary form of bellum‘war’, used in medieval Latin with the meaning ‘combat between two persons’, partly influenced by dualis‘of two’. The original sense was ‘single combat used to decide a judicial dispute’; the sense ‘contest to decide a point of honor’ dates from the early 17th century

    Definitions

    1. a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor
  3. 2. any struggle between two skillful opponents (individuals or groups)

Famous quotes

  • « Marriage, in life, is like a duel in the midst of a battle. »
    Edmond About
  • « The study of beauty is a duel in which the artist cries with terror before being defeated. »
    Charles Baudelaire

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