armistice
/ˈɑːrmɪstɪs/
noun
Origin
Latin
arma — arms, weapons
Overview
Meaning Now
- A formal agreement by warring parties to stop fighting for a certain time; a temporary cessation of hostilities.
Literal older meaning
a standing still of arms
Language path
Latin → French → English
Earliest form
armistitium
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term is most famously associated with the Armistice of 11 November 1918, which marked the end of fighting on the Western Front in World War I. Unlike a peace treaty, which officially ends a state of war, an armistice only halts the active military conflict.
Evolution
- Latin
arma + sistere
“weapons + to come to a stand”
Formation of the post-classical noun armistitium.
- French
armistice
“truce”
Adapted from Latin armistitium in the 17th century.
- English
armistice
“cessation of war”
First recorded in English in the mid-17th century.
Connections
Word parts
armi-
root
arms, weapons
-stice
suffix
a coming to a stop
Related across languages
French
armistice
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.