01 n. pl. a legal state created by a declaration of war and ended by official declaration, during which the international rules of war apply.
-
1.
a legal state created by a declaration of war and ended by official declaration, during which the international rules of war apply.“We have showed ourselves generous adversaries . . . and have carried on even our hostilities with humanity.” — Atterbury.
-
2.
acts of overt warfare.