a. and adv. Forms: 5 Sc. wir-, weirelyk, werlik, 5–6 Sc. weirlyk(e, 6 Sc. were-, weirlike, -lic; 6 warlycke, warrelike, 6–7 warlicke, warrelyke, 6–8 warlick, (7 warlique), 6– warlike. [f. WAR sb.1 + -LIKE.]
A. adj.
1. Of a person, nation, etc.: Naturally disposed to warfare or fighting; skilled in war, martial; courageous in war, valiant; fond of war, bellicose.
† The warlike god, the god of war, Mars.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 323. Thir werlik Scottis, all with one assent, Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 75. Thinhabitantes [of Jamaica] are … warrelyke men.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 118. Warlike and Martiall Talbot, Burgonie Inshrines thee in his heart.
1599. Shaks., etc., Pass. Pilgr., 147. Euen thus (quoth she) the warlike god embrac’t me.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 712. Joane wife unto that most warlicke [1637 warlique] Knight Edw. Prince of Wales.
1635–56. Cowley, Davideis, IV. 557. As when a wrathful Dragons dismal light Strikes suddenly some warlike Eagles sight.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 902. The warlike Angel mov’d, Disdainfully half smiling thus repli’d.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer., VI. Wks. 1851, V. 584. The warlike tribes in North America.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, III. 200. Some trifling assistance from government, to protect them from the predatory and warlike tribes.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., ii. Mr. Winkle retraced his steps … with the gloomy and dreadful resolve of accepting the challenge of the warlike Doctor Slammer.
b. Of actions, attributes, etc.: Martial, valiant.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, IV. 188. And so let his warlike browes Still be deckt with Lawrel boughes.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, xiii. II. 190. These exercises do not create and are not sufficient to keep alive the warlike spirit of a nation.
c. Of things: Martial in character.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 1021. Ȝeit thai within on lowd defyit Wallace, And trumpattis blew with mony werlik soun.
1595. Shaks., John, II. 242. For this downe-troden equity, we tread In warlike march, these greenes before your Towne. Ibid. (1602), Ham., V. ii. 360. What warlike noyse is this?
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 531. At the warlike sound Of Trumpets loud and Clarions.
1811. Scott, Roderick, lvi. Then peals the warlike thunder of the drum.
d. Favoring or threatening war.
1915. Nation (N. Y.), 17 June, 671/1. After his own outgivings he [Mr. Bryan] had the effrontery to blame the press for making people think the note would be warlike.
† e. fig. Of writings: = POLEMIC a. nonce-use.
a. 1603. T. Cartwright, in Presbyt. Rev. (1888), Jan., 121. Ambrose and especially Austin in their warlike writinges as they are termed.
† 2. Equipped for fighting or for war. Obs.
c. 1420. Wyntoun, Cron., IX. xvi. 1704. Schir Henry, qwhat makis ȝow to be Sa wirlyk as now heyr we ȝow se?
1563. in Rymer, Foedera (1719), XV. 631. With one Shippe … Marchantlike and not Warlike.
1591. Spenser, Virg. Gnat, 124. He, that … No deadly fight of warlick fleete doth feare.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. vi. 15. Ere we were two dayes old at Sea, a Pyrate of very Warlicke appointment gaue vs Chace.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 537. Monasteries, ancient and warlike, so built for feare of theeves and pyrats.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 285. If to the Warlike Steed thy Studies bend.
1711. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 124. They are … destitute of warlick ships and other vessells.
3. Of or pertaining to war.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 78 b. The assemblie of the Empire … was in this warlyke preparation.
1573. Satir. Poems Reform., xxxix. 93. For ordinance thay dung at day and nycht By weirlyk volyis.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xxi. 26 b. [They] surrendred the same [castle] … without any warlike reason.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ii. 16. They were two knights of perelesse puissance, And famous far abroad for warlike gest.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. i. 44. Since first I follow’d Armes, Nere heard I of a warlike enterprize More venturous … then this.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 282. Who being brought up in warlike feats … most manfully defended this Castle against King Stephen.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, 363. A warlike-field is the seed-plot of great and heroical actions.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., III. xxi. 39. He was upon his return from a Warlike expedition.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 234. Him they serv’d in war, And him in peace, for sake of warlike deeds Rev’renc’d no less.
1817. Byron, Manfred, III. i. 141. Mortals … who … die ere middle age, Without the violence of warlike death.
1846. Greener, Sci. Gunnery, 81. All our arrangements in warlike preparations, at present, involve [etc.].
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 342. Their former glorious warlike exploits … led them to entertain very different expectations.
b. of formation, order, etc.
1599. Alex. Hume, Hymns, vii. 191 Poems (S.T.S.), 57. Euen sik … Sall armed be that day with spear and sheild, Baith horsse and fute in weirlike maner drest.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 780. The Cherubim … stood armd To thir night watches in warlike Parade.
1808. Scott, Marmion, I. xx. Were I in warlike wise to ride, A better guard I would not lack.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, IX. 102. With each A hundred youths in warlike order marched.
6. Of arms, munitions, etc.: For use in war.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc., xliii. 283. We shall learne also howe to fight agaynst Antichrist, and howe he muste be ouercomen not with warlicke, but spiritual weapons.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 183/1. Armamentarium,… an armourie, or place wherein warlike furniture is kept.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., Prol. 13. To Tenedos they come, And the deepe-drawing Barke[s] do there disgorge Their warlike fraut-age.
1652. Wadsworth, trans. Sandoval’s Civ. Wars Spain, V. xxx. 312. They were in all six thousand compleat Foot and hors, besides thirtie Carts loaden with Munition, carriages, and other warlike utensils.
1895. J. G. Millais, Breath fr. Veldt, 24. Ample provisions, ammunition, and warlike stores were deposited in the hunting-carts.
d. Of exercises, training, etc.: Of a military character, martial. ? Now rare.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xviii. 51 b. [They are] exercised … to shoote, and doe all other warlyke exercises.
1626. Gouge, Serm. Dignity Chivalry, § 7. Were Artillery Gardens, and Military Fields for Martiall discipline and warlike trainings, fostered … thorow-out this land.
4. Of or belonging to a warrior or soldier.
1551. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 59. Item for our Master of ye Ordnaunce a ffayre apparell warlyke.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. iii. 31. I breake my warlike word.
1621. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., VIII. (1626), 150. For when he wore his fairely plumed cask; She thought him louely in that warlick mask.
1671. Milton, Samson, 137. He … In scorn of thir proud arms and warlike tools, Spurn’d them to death by Troops.
1813. Scott, Trierm., I. xvii. Behind him were in triumph borne The warlike arms he late had worn.
1818. Shelley, Homer’s Hymn to Minerva, 5. From his awful head Whom Jove brought forth, in warlike armour dressed.
† B. adv. As is usual in war. Obs. rare.
1583. A. Melvill, in J. Melvill’s Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 161. The quhilk merciless men … ar gorgiuslie arrayit, and accompanied warlyke with a sort of limmers and godles suddartes.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VIII. 343. Some warlike maim’d, some lame.
Hence † Warlikely adv., in a warlike condition or manner. † Warlikeness, warlike disposition.
1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV. (1550), 2. When his army by the sea, was thus warlykely set forward. Ibid., 37 b. So he hym selfe with his nobilitie warlikely accompaignied, passed ouer betwene Douer and Caleys.
1605. Warlikenesse [see WARLINESS].
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIV. lxxxiii. 345. We shall the warlikenesse compend of those fame-wronged Men.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., I. 51. Many tall ships … warlikely appointed.
1626. Sir W. Rawleigh’s Ghost, 3. The Cound … began to repeate many relations … touching the generall warlikenesse of the British Nation.
