militate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb have force or influence; bring about an effect or change
    • Politeness militated against this opinion being expressed

WordNet

Mil"i*tate intransitive verb
Etymology
L. militare, militatum, to be a soldier, fr. miles, militis, soldier.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Militated ; present participle & verbal noun Militating
Definitions
  1. To make war; to fight; to contend; -- usually followed by against and with.
    These are great questions, where great names militate against each other. Burke.
    The invisible powers of heaven seemed to militate on the side of the pious emperor. Gibbon.

Webster 1913