dīgladior

1. Pugnare and confligere mean, to decide a quarrel by force, generally in a mass, in a battle; dimicare and digladiari, to decide a quarrel by arms, and generally in a single combat. 2. Pugnare denotes a battle, more with reference to its form, and on its brightest side, as requiring skill and courage; confligere, as a mere engagement, in consequence of an occasional collision, on its rough side as aiming at slaughter and carnage. Cic. Balb. 9. Qui cum hoste nostro cominus sæpe in acie pugnavit: comp. with Off. i. 23. Tenere in acie versari et manu cum hoste confligere, immane quiddam et belluarum simile est. Or, Nep. Eum. 4. and 8. 3. Dimicare denotes a fight with weapons agreed upon by the parties, such as swords, spears, lances, clubs, and gives the harmless image of a man who fights in his own defence; whereas digladiari denotes a fight with sword or poniard, and gives the hateful image of a practised gladiator, whose calling and art consist in nothing but fighting and assassinating. Cic. Tusc. iv. 19. Convenit dimicare pro legibus, pro libertate, pro patria: comp. with Leg. iii. 9. Iis sicis, quas ipse se projecisse dicit in forum, quibus inter se digladientur cives. (v. 187.)