Fight | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Fight, v. i.

verbintransitive

(fit), v. i. [imp. & p. p. FOUGHT (fawt); p. pr. & vb. n. FIGHTING.] [A-S. feohtan, O. H. Ger. fehtan, M. H. Ger. vëhten, N. H. Ger. fechten, D. vechten, Sw. fäkta, Dan. fegte.] 1. To strive or contend for victory, in battle or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; — followed by with or against. You do fight against your country's foes. Shak. To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. Milton. 2. To act in opposition to any thing; to contend; to strive; to make resistance.

Fīght, v. t.

verbtransitive

(fīt), v. t. 1. To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause. He had to fight his way through the world. Macaulay. I have fought a good fight. 2 Tim. iv. 7.

To contend with in battle; to war against; as, they fought the enemy in two pitched battles; the captain fought the frigate for three hours.
To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight; as, to fight cocks; to fight one's ship.

Fīght, n.

noun

(fīt), n. [A-S. feoht, feohte, gefeoht. See supra.] 1. A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a struggle for victory, either between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies. A duel is called a single fight, or combat. Who now defies thee thrice to single fight. Milton. 2. A screen for the combatants in ships. [Obs.] Up with your fights, and your nettings prepare. Dryden. Syn.—Battle; combat; engagement; contest; struggle; encounter; fray; affray; duel; action; conflict. See BATTLE.