▪ I. warlike, a. and adv.
(ˈwɔːlaɪk)
Forms: 5 Sc. wir-, weirelyk, werlik, 5–6 Sc. weirlyk(e, 6 Sc. were-, weirlike, -lic; 6 warlycke, warrelike, 6–7 warlicke, warrelyke, 6–8 warlick, (7 warlique), 6– warlike.
[f. war n.1 + -like.]
A. adj.
1. Of a person, nation, etc.: Naturally disposed to warfare or fighting; skilled in war, martial; courageous in war, valiant; fond of war, bellicose.
† the warlike god, the god of war, Mars.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace iv. 323 Thir werlik Scottis, all with one assent, Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went. 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 75 Thinhabitantes [of Jamaica] are..warrelyke men. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 118 Warlike and Martiall Talbot, Burgonie Inshrines thee in his heart. 1599 Shakes. etc. Pass. Pilgr. 147 Euen thus (quoth she) the warlike god embrac't me. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 712 Joane wife unto that most warlicke [1637 warlique] Knight Edw. Prince of Wales. 1635–56 Cowley Davideis iv. 557 As when a wrathful Dragons dismal light Strikes suddenly some warlike Eagles sight. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 902 The warlike Angel mov'd, Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd. 1777 Robertson Hist. Amer. vi. Wks. 1851 V. 584 The warlike tribes in North America. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville III. 200 Some trifling assistance from government, to protect them from the predatory and warlike tribes. 1837 Dickens Pickw. ii, Mr. Winkle retraced his steps..with the gloomy and dreadful resolve of accepting the challenge of the warlike Doctor Slammer. |
b. Of actions, attributes, etc.: Martial, valiant.
| 1594 Kyd Cornelia iv. 188 And so let his warlike browes Still be deckt with Lawrel boughes. 1836 Thirlwall Greece xiii. II. 190 These exercises do not create and are not sufficient to keep alive the warlike spirit of a nation. |
c. Of things: Martial in character.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace viii. 1021 Ȝeit thai within on lowd defyit Wallace, And trumpattis blew with mony werlik soun. 1595 Shakes. John ii. 242 For this downe-troden equity, we tread In warlike march, these greenes before your Towne. 1602 ― Ham. v. ii. 360 What warlike noyse is this? 1667 Milton P.L. i. 531 At the warlike sound Of Trumpets loud and Clarions. 1811 Scott Don Roderick lvi, Then peals the warlike thunder of the drum. |
d. Favouring or threatening war.
| 1915 Nation (N.Y.) 17 June 671/1 After his own outgivings he [Mr. Bryan] had the effrontery to blame the press for making people think the note would be warlike. |
† e. fig. Of writings: = polemic a. nonce-use.
| a 1603 T. Cartwright in Presbyt. Rev. (1888) Jan. 121 Ambrose and especially Austin in their warlike writinges as they are termed. |
† 2. Equipped for fighting or for war. Obs.
| c 1420 Wyntoun Cron. ix. xvi. 1704 Schir Henry, qwhat makis ȝow to be Sa wirlyk as now heyr we ȝow se? 1563 in Rymer Foedera (1719) XV. 631 With one Shippe..Marchant⁓like and not Warlike. 1591 Spenser Virg. Gnat 124 He, that..No deadly fight of warlick fleete doth feare. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iv. vi. 15 Ere we were two dayes old at Sea, a Pyrate of very Warlicke appointment gaue vs Chace. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 537 Monasteries, ancient and warlike, so built for feare of theeves and pyrats. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 285 If to the Warlike Steed thy Studies bend. 1711 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 124 They are..destitute of warlick ships and other vessells. |
3. Of or pertaining to war.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 78 b, The assemblie of the Empire..was in this warlyke preparation. 1573 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxix. 93 For ordinance thay dung at day and nycht By weirlyk volyis. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xxi. 26 b, [They] surrendred the same [castle].. without any warlike reason. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ii. 16 They were two knights of perelesse puissance, And famous far abroad for warlike gest. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. i. 44 Since first I follow'd Armes, Nere heard I of a warlike enterprize More venturous..then this. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 282 Who being brought up in warlike feats..most manfully defended this Castle against King Stephen. 1675 Traherne Chr. Ethics 363 A warlike-field is the seed-plot of great and heroical actions. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. iii. xxi. 39 He was upon his return from a Warlike expedition. 1784 Cowper Task v. 234 Him they serv'd in war, And him in peace, for sake of warlike deeds Rev'renc'd no less. 1817 Byron Manfred iii. i. 141 Mortals..who..die ere middle age, Without the violence of warlike death. 1846 Greener Sci. Gunnery 81 All our arrangements in warlike preparations, at present, involve [etc.]. 1847 Mrs. A. Kerr tr. Ranke's Hist. Servia 342 Their former glorious warlike exploits..led them to entertain very different expectations. |
b. of formation, order, etc.
| 1599 A. Hume Hymns vii. 191 Poems (S.T.S.) 57 Euen sik..Sall armed be that day with spear and sheild, Baith horsse and fute in weirlike maner drest. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 780 The Cherubim..stood armd To thir night watches in warlike Parade. 1808 Scott Marm. i. xx, Were I in warlike wise to ride, A better guard I would not lack. 1870 Bryant Iliad ix. 102 With each A hundred youths in war⁓like order marched. |
c. Of arms, munitions, etc.: For use in war.
| 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. xliii. 283 We shall learne also howe to fight agaynst Antichrist, and howe he muste be ouercomen not with warlicke, but spiritual weapons. 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 183/1 Armamentarium,..an armourie, or place wherein warlike furniture is kept. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. Prol. 13 To Tenedos they come, And the deepe-drawing Barke[s] do there disgorge Their warlike fraut-age. 1652 Wadsworth tr. Sandoval's Civ. Wars Spain v. xxx. 312 They were in all six thousand compleat Foot and hors, besides thirtie Carts loaden with Munition, carriages, and other warlike utensils. 1895 J. G. Millais Breath fr. Veldt 24 Ample provisions, ammunition, and warlike stores were deposited in the hunting-carts. |
d. Of exercises, training, etc.: Of a military character, martial. ? Now rare.
| 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xviii. 51 b, [They are] exercised..to shoote, and doe all other warlyke exercises. 1626 Gouge Serm. Dignity Chivalry §7 Were Artillery Gardens, and Military Fields for Martiall discipline and warlike trainings, fostered..thorow-out this land. |
4. Of or belonging to a warrior or soldier.
| 1551 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 59 Item for our Master of y⊇ Ordnaunce a ffayre apparell warlyke. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iv. iii. 31, I breake my warlike word. 1621 G. Sandys Ovid's Met. viii. (1626) 150 For when he wore his fairely plumed cask; She thought him louely in that warlick mask. 1671 Milton Samson 137 He..In scorn of thir proud arms and warlike tools, Spurn'd them to death by Troops. 1813 Scott Trierm. i. xvii, Behind him were in triumph borne The warlike arms he late had worn. 1818 Shelley Homer's Hymn to Minerva 5 From his awful head Whom Jove brought forth, in warlike armour dressed. |
† B. adv. As is usual in war. Obs. rare.
| 1583 A. Melvill in J. Melvill's Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.) 161 The quhilk merciless men..ar gorgiuslie arrayit, and accompanied warlyke with a sort of limmers and godles suddartes. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii. 343 Some warlike maim'd, some lame. |
Hence † ˈwarlikely adv., in a warlike condition or manner. † ˈwarlikeness, warlike disposition.
| 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV (1550) 2 When his army by the sea, was thus warlykely set forward. Ibid. 37 b, So he hym selfe with his nobilitie warlikely accompaignied, passed ouer betwene Douer and Caleys. 1605 Warlikenesse [see warliness]. 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xiv. lxxxiii. 345 We shall the warlikenesse compend of those fame-wronged Men. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. i. 51 Many tall ships..warlikely appointed. 1626 Sir W. Rawleigh's Ghost 3 The Cound..began to repeate many relations..touching the generall warlikenesse of the British Nation. |
▪ II. warlike
obs. variant of warlock.