Join v. t. [imp. & p. p. Joined p. pr. & vb. n. Joining.]
1. To bring together, literally or figuratively; to place in contact; to connect; to couple; to unite; to combine; to associate; to add; to append.
Woe unto them that join house to house. --Is. v. 8.
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches joined. --Shak.
Thy tuneful voice with numbers join. --Dryden.
2. To associate one's self to; to be or become connected with; to league one's self with; to unite with; as, to join a party; to join the church.
We jointly now to join no other head. --Dryden.
3. To unite in marriage.
He that joineth his virgin in matrimony. --Wyclif.
What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. --Matt. xix. 6.
4. To enjoin upon; to command. [Obs. & R.]
They join them penance, as they call it. --Tyndale.
5. To accept, or engage in, as a contest; as, to join encounter, battle, issue.
To join battle, To join issue. See under Battle, Issue.
Syn: -- To add; annex; unite; connect; combine; consociate; couple; link; append. See Add.
Bat·tle, n.
1. A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement; a combat.
2. A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.
The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of the best poet of that day. --H. Morley.
3. A division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.]
The king divided his army into three battles. --Bacon.
The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every action. --Robertson.
4. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear; battalia. [Obs.]
Note: ☞ Battle is used adjectively or as the first part of a self-explaining compound; as, battle brand, a “brand” or sword used in battle; battle cry; battlefield; battle ground; battle array; battle song.
Battle piece, a painting, or a musical composition, representing a battle.
Battle royal. (a) A fight between several gamecocks, where the one that stands longest is the victor. --Grose. (b) A contest with fists or cudgels in which more than two are engaged; a mêlée. --Thackeray.
Drawn battle, one in which neither party gains the victory.
To give battle, to attack an enemy.
To join battle, to meet the attack; to engage in battle.
Pitched battle, one in which the armies are previously drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the forces.
Wager of battle. See under Wager, n.
Syn: -- Conflict; encounter; contest; action.
Usage: Battle, Combat, Fight, Engagement. These words agree in denoting a close encounter between contending parties. Fight is a word of less dignity than the others. Except in poetry, it is more naturally applied to the encounter of a few individuals, and more commonly an accidental one; as, a street fight. A combat is a close encounter, whether between few or many, and is usually premeditated. A battle is commonly more general and prolonged. An engagement supposes large numbers on each side, engaged or intermingled in the conflict.