embattled

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embattled¹

  • /ɛmˈbætl̩d/ UK
  • /ɪm-/ UK
  • /ɛmˈbæt(ə)ld/ US
  • /ɪm-/ US
  • [-ɾ(ə)ld] US

Where it comes from

From embattle (“to equip as for battle”) + -ed.

adjective more embattled · most embattled

  1. Armed or prepared for battle (literally or figuratively). If you knevv hovv ſtrong and full of ſtratagems the diuel vvere, vvith hovve many Legions of luſtfull deſires he commeth embattailed againſt you: vvhat ſecrete ambuſhes of temptations he hath layde to intrappe you, then vvoulde you gather your ſelues into one bodie to reſiſt him: […]
  2. Of a place: occupied or surrounded by armed troops (also figuratively). The Element euery night vvas embattailed vvith Armed men, skyrmiſhing and conflicting amongſt themeſlues; and the imperiall Eagles of Rome, vvere plainly there diſplayed to all mens ſight.
  3. Of a place: strengthened so as to withstand attacks; fortified. [N]o ſubject can build a caſtle, or houſe of ſtrength imbatteled, or other fortreſs defenſible, vvithout the licence of the king; for the danger vvhich might enſue, if every man at his pleaſure might do it.
  4. figuratively Subject to or troubled by attacks, controversy, or pressure. Now finding herself under rapid and accurate fire from the Alabama and Washington, Nagato is embattled, whilst Yamato has to switch to partially engage Iowa.

    Similar: assailed, threatened

verb

  1. participle, past simple past and past participle of embattle

embattled²

  • /ɛmˈbætl̩d/ UK
  • /ɪm-/ UK
  • /ɛmˈbæt(ə)ld/ US
  • /ɪm-/ US
  • [-ɾ(ə)ld] US

Where it comes from

From embattle (“to furnish with battlements”) + -ed.

adjective more embattled · most embattled

  1. Of a fortress or other building, a wall, etc.: having battlements or crenellations; battlemented, crenellated. The lofty towers of the Castle overhang the western approach to the Bridge, and the line passes into Conway through an opening pierced in the embattled wall, which entirely surrounds the town. These fortifications are in good preservation, and rank among the most perfect examples of the strongholds
  2. broadly Having an upper edge or outline of alternating square indentations and extensions like battlements, unless the embattled item is a pale, cross or saltire, in which case it has the crenelations on all sides. Argent, a Feſs embattled and tvvo Eſtoils in Chief, Sable, is born by the Name of Tvvyne, and vvas atteſted to belong (and vvas confirm'd) to Tvvyne of Preſton in the County of Lancaſter, Eſquire, […]

    Similar: crénelé

verb

  1. participle, past simple past and past participle of embattle

Translations

Every language

adj armed or prepared for battle

Françaisarmé, prêt pour la bataille
Românăînarmați

adj subject to or troubled by attacks, controversy, or pressure

Françaiscontesté, encerclé
Deutschumkämpft

adj of a fortress, etc.: having battlements or crenellations

Españolalmenado
Françaiscrénaux d'une muraille, toujours en difficultés

adj having an edge or outline of alternating square indendations and extensions like battlements

Españolalmenado
Françaiscrénelé
DeutschZinnenschnitt
Italianomerlato

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MLA

"embattled." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/embattled. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

embattled. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/embattled

Chicago

"embattled." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/embattled.

BibTeX
@misc{embattled_2026,
  title = {embattled},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/embattled},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}