militate

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (1)

  1. have force or influence; bring about an effect or change“Politeness militated against this opinion being expressed”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Militate \Mil"i*tate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Militated; p. pr. & vb. n. Militating.] [L. militare, militatum, to be a soldier, fr. miles, militis, soldier.] To make war; to fight; to contend; -- usually followed by against and with. [1913 Webster]

These are great questions, where great names militate against each other. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

The invisible powers of heaven seemed to militate on the side of the pious emperor. --Gibbon. [1913 Webster]

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