| Noun | 1. | war - the waging of armed conflict against an enemy; "thousands of people were killed in the war" Synonyms: warfare |
| 2. | war - a legal state created by a declaration of war and ended by official declaration during which the international rules of war apply; "war was declared in November but actual fighting did not begin until the following spring" Synonyms: state of war Antonyms: peace - the state prevailing during the absence of war | |
| 3. | war - an active struggle between competing entities; "a price war"; "a war of wits"; "diplomatic warfare" Synonyms: warfare | |
| 4. | war - a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious; "the war on poverty"; "the war against crime" | |
| Verb | 1. | war - make or wage war Antonyms: make peace - end hostilities; "The brothers who had been fighting over their inheritance finally made peace" |
WAR. A contention by force; or the art of paralysing the forces of an enemy.
2. It is either public or private. It is not intended here to speak of
the latter.
3. Public war is either civil or national. Civil war is that which is
waged between two parties, citizens or members of the same state or nation.
National war is a contest between two or more independent nations) carried
on by authority of their respective governments.
4. War is not only an act, but a state or condition, for nations are
said to be at war not only when their armies are engaged, so as to be in the
very act of contention, but also when, they have any matter of controversy
or dispute subsisting between them which they are determined to decide by
the use of force, and have declared publicly, or by their acts, their
determination so to decide it.
5. National wars are said to be offensive or defensive. War is
offensive on the part of that government which commits the first act of
violence; it is defensive on the part of that government which receives such
act; but it is very difficult to say what is the first act of violence. If a
nation sees itself menaced with an attack, its first act of violence to
prevent such attack, will be considered as defensive.
6. To legalize a war it must be declared by that branch of the
government entrusted by the constitution with this power. Bro. tit.,
Denizen, pl. 20. And it seems it need not be declared by both the
belligerent powers. Rob. Rep. 232. By the constitution of the United States,
art. 1, s. 7, congress are invested with power "to declare war, grant
letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land
and water; and they have also the power to raise and support armies, and to
provide and maintain a navy." See 8 Cranch, R. 110, 154; 1 Mason, R. 79, 81;
4 Binn. R 487. Vide, generally, Grot. B, 1, c. 1, s. 1 Rutherf. Inst. B. 1,
c. 19; Bynkershoeck, Quest. Jur. Pub. lib. 1, c. 1; Lee on Capt. c. 1; Chit.
Law of Nat. 28; Marten's Law of Nat. B. 8, c. 2; Phil. Ev. Index, h., t.
Dane's Ab. Index, h. i.; Com. Dig. h.t. Bac. Ab. Prerogative, D 4; Merl.
Repert. mot Guerre; 1 Inst. 249; Vattel, liv. 3, c. 1, Sec. 1; Mann. Com. B.
3, c. 1.