I.to be a soldier, to perform military service, to serve as a soldier (syn.: stipendium mereo; class.).
I. Lit.: “in cujus exercitu Catonis filius tiro militabat,” Cic. Off. 1, 11, 36: “sub signis alicujus,” Liv. 23, 42: “adversus aliquem,” Suet. Caes. 68: “apud Persas,” Curt. 6, 5, 7: “vobiscum,” id. 8, 8, 11: “si inter vigiles Romae Sex annis militaverit,” Ulp. Fragm. 3, 5.—
II. Transf.
1. To make war, wage war, war against; pass., with a homogeneous subject: “libenter hoc et omne militabitur Bellum,” Hor. Epod. 1, 23. —
2. Of other than military service: “at confidentia militia illa militatur multo magis quam pondere,” Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 50; Ov. H. 7, 32: “vixi puellis nuper idoneus, Et militavi non sine gloriā,” Hor. C. 3, 26, 1: “prima stipendia Veneri militabant,” App. M. 9, p. 226, 9: “militat in silvis catulus,” Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 67.—Of an inanim. subject: “aries machina est, quae muros frangere militat,” serves, Tert. Pall. 1; cf.: “carnalia desideria, quae militant adversus animam,” Vulg. 1 Pet. 2, 11.
