militate

verb

USMIL-i-tayt/ˈmɪlɪteɪt/

Formsmilitates, militating, militated

Often confused with mitigate

2 meanings of militate

1
verbintransitive
To make something more likely or less likely to happen.
Bad weather may militate against an early start.
His long experience militated in favor of hiring him.
Similarweigh, count
Note
2
verbobsolete
To serve as a soldier or fight in a war.
This..moues many Italian Caualiers to militate in the warres of Holland.
1625, Nathanael Brent, Free Schoole of WarreHere, militate means to serve as soldiers and fight in a war.
Note

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Origin

From a Latin word, mīlitō, first used in English in 1598. Its meaning was shaped by the French word militer.