Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The Great War: The name used, especially before 1939, for the major global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918. It was fought between two coalitions: the Allies (including France, the British Empire, Russia, Italy, and later the United States) and the Central Powers (including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire).

Usage

• The term "Great War" is a historical name. It is always capitalized ("the Great War") and typically used with the definite article "the."
• It is the name contemporaries gave to the conflict, reflecting its unprecedented scale and impact. After the outbreak of World War II in 1939, it became more commonly known as "World War I."

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Many of the poems from the early 20th century reflect the trauma of the Great War.
  • My great-grandfather fought in the trenches during the Great War.
  • Historians study the political causes that led to the outbreak of the Great War.

Advanced Usage

• "The war to end all wars": This was an idealistic phrase sometimes used during and after the Great War, expressing the hope that its horrific nature would prevent future large-scale conflicts.
  • The Treaty of Versailles was signed with the hope, however futile, of fulfilling the promise of the "war to end all wars."

Variants and Related Words

• World War I (n): The modern, more common name for the same conflict (1914-1918). This term became standard after the start of World War II.
  • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand is considered the trigger for World War I.
• First World War (n): A synonym for World War I, commonly used in British English.
• WWI (n): The standard abbreviation.

Synonyms

• World War I: The direct synonym and now the primary term.
• The First World War: A formal synonym.
• The 1914-1918 War: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the dates.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "Great War" specifically refers to the historical event from 1914-1918. It is not a generic term for any large war. Its meaning is fixed and proper.

Noun

1. a war between the allies (Russia, France, British Empire, Italy, United States, Japan, Rumania, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Montenegro) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria) from 1914 to 1918