aggressor
(əˈgrɛsə(r))
[a. L. aggressor n. of agent, f. aggredi: see aggress v.; cf. Fr. agresseur, 16th c. in Littré.]
He who sets upon, attacks, or assails another; he who makes the first attack, or takes the first step in provoking a quarrel. Also attrib., as aggressor nation, aggressor state.
[Not in Cotgr. 1611–50, who renders Fr. aggresseur, an assailer or assaulter, hee that gives the onset, or first layes hands on his weapon, to do another violence.]
| 1678 Phillips, Aggressour, an assailer of another, a beginner of a business. 1684 Burnet tr. More's Utopia 155 To defend themselves, or their Friends, from any unjust Aggressors. 1701 Lond. Gaz. mmmdccxiii/2 The French were the first Aggressors, by seizing all the Boats. 1768 Blackstone Comm. I. 259 He may attack and seise the property of the aggressor nation. 1851 ‘L. Mariotti’ Italy i. 44 The Austrian was the aggressor. 1930 S. O. Levinson in E. R. A. Seligman Encycl. Soc. Sci. (1935) I. 485/2 In both the American Revision and the Protocol an attempt was made to base the definition of an ‘aggressor nation’ on refusal of arbitration. 1940 King George VI in Times Weekly 27 Nov. 11/1 My peoples and My Allies are united in their resolve to continue the fight against the aggressor nations until freedom is made secure. 1941 Spectator 5 Sept. 225/1 Great Britain, left to face the aggressor States alone..was keeping the enemy at bay. |