Combat — Defs

01 v. i. To struggle or contend, as with an opposing force; to fight.

imp. & p. p. Combated; p. pr. & vb. n. Combating

1.
To struggle or contend, as with an opposing force; to fight.
“To combat with a blind man I disdain.” — Milton.

“After the fall of the republic, the Romans combated only for the choice of masters.” — Gibbon.

02 v. t. To fight with; to oppose by force, argument, etc.; to contend against; to resist.

03 n. A fight; a contest of violence; a struggle for supremacy.

1.
A fight; a contest of violence; a struggle for supremacy.
“My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st.” — Shak.

“The noble combat that 'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in Paulina.” — Shak.
2.
An engagement of no great magnitude; or one in which the parties engaged are not armies.(Mil.)

Phrases & compounds

Single combat — one in which a single combatant meets a single opponent, as in the case of David and Goliath; also, a duel.