militia
UK: mɪˈlɪʃə | US: məˈlɪʃə
n. A military force composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers, typically called upon in emergencies.
n. (Historical) A local army or militia in service to a sovereign or state.
militia = milit<soldier> + ia<noun suffix (collective or state)>
- milit (from Latin miles "soldier"): Refers to armed service or combat.
- ia (Latin noun suffix): Denotes a collective group or condition (e.g., familia "household").
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin militia ("military service, warfare"), itself from miles ("soldier"). The term evolved in English (16th century) to describe non-professional citizen armies, reflecting the Roman tradition of temporary levies. The suffix -ia emphasizes the collective nature of the force.
The local militia was formed to defend the village during the conflict.
In colonial America, militias played a key role in the Revolutionary War.
The government disbanded the militia after peace was restored.
Modern militias often operate outside formal military structures.
Historically, militias were less trained but highly motivated.