war-song
Definition
- Noun:
- A song sung before going into battle: "war-song" refers to a traditional or ceremonial song performed by warriors, especially among tribal groups, to inspire courage, unity, and a fighting spirit before combat.
- A song about military themes: "war-song" can also denote any musical composition that glorifies or commemorates warfare, soldiers, or military campaigns.
Usage Examples
- (A ceremonial song sung to prepare for battle.)
- (Songs that celebrate military exploits.)
Advanced Usage
"to sing a war-song": to perform such a song, often as a ritual.
- The warriors sang a war-song to invoke the spirits of their ancestors. (They performed a ceremonial battle hymn.)
"war-song of defiance": a song expressing resistance or refusal to surrender.
- The captured soldiers sang a war-song of defiance as they were led away. (A song of resistance in a hopeless situation.)
Variants and Related Words
- War-song (n): the standard spelling; also occasionally hyphenated as "war song" (without hyphen) in modern usage.
- Warcry (n): a shout or yell used in battle, distinct from a song but similar in purpose.
- The soldiers raised a fierce warcry as they charged. (A loud shout to intimidate the enemy.)
Synonyms
- Battle hymn: a song or hymn associated with war, often religious in tone.
- Marching song: a song sung while marching, often military in nature.
- War chant: a rhythmic, repetitive song or chant used to build morale before battle.
Related Idioms
Sing a different war-song: to change one's attitude or position, especially from aggressive to conciliatory.
- After the negotiations, the general began to sing a different war-song. (He changed his stance from belligerent to cooperative.)
War-song of the heart: a metaphorical expression for a person's inner determination or fighting spirit.
- She hummed a war-song of the heart before her final exam. (She mentally prepared herself for a challenge.)