belli

{ } a. [ L. bellicus. See Bellicose. ] Of or pertaining to war; warlike; martial. [ Obs. ] “Bellic Cæsar.” Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. bellicosus, fr. bellicus of war, fr. bellum war. See Duel. ] Inclined to war or contention; warlike; pugnacious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Arnold was, in fact, in a bellicose vein. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a bellicose manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bellicose. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having (such) a belly; puffed out; -- used in composition; as, pot-bellied; shad-bellied. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The quality of being belligerent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the act or state of being engaged in war or a warlike conflict; warfare.
Syn. -- hostilities. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. an aggressively hostile or warlike attitude or nature; a readiness to fight or offend, with little or no provocation. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. A nation or state recognized as carrying on war; a person engaged in warfare. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. bellum war + gerens, -entis, waging, p. pr. of gerere to wage: cf. F. belligérant. See Bellicose, Jest. ] 1. Waging war; carrying on war. “Belligerent powers.” E. Everett. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining, or tending, to war; of or relating to belligerents; as, a belligerent tone; belligerent rights. [ 1913 Webster ]