Forms: see WAR sb.1; also 6 -far, 6–7 Sc. -fair. [f. WAR sb.1 + FARE sb.1] A going to war (cf. b); the action of carrying on, or engaging in, war; the act or state of conflict; military life or service.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 114. Out of his lordis land suld pas nouthir hors na men till othir contree in armes na werefare.
c. 1514. Barclay, Eglog, iii. (1570), B vj b. For nought is in warfar saue care and misery.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xxviii. 1. The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxviii. 166. The most common Souldier, may demand the due wages of his warrefare, as a debt.
1841. J. F. Cooper, Deerslayer, vii. He was as yet unpractised in the ruthless expedients of savage warfare.
1900. W. E. Norris, in Longman’s Mag., March, 440. Having acquired wounds, honours, and a brevet colonelcy in Indian frontier warfare.
† b. Phr. To go (forth) a warfare, to go to the war; also to go (etc.) on warfare, to pass (forth) in warfare (Sc.); to send a warfare. Also a warfare, in the field (= L. militiae). Obs.
In these phrases a is A prep.1, but is often mistaken for the indef. article.
1483. Cely Papers (Camden), 144. Richard Awrey … ȝede forthe a warfare in a schypp of hys owne.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. ix. 7. Who goeth a warfare [τίς στρατεύεται] eny tyme att his awne cost?
1533. Bellenden, Livy (S.T.S.), I. 94. Þir ȝoung men war ordanit to be reddy to pas in werefare aganis þare Inemyis.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Golden Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), K iv. Torquate her housband was in Asie a warre fare.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 201 b. Alexander hauing taken a viage on warrefare into Asia.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 24. He whiche had maried a wyfe, the same yeare shoulde not be forced to go on warrefaire.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 270 b. Not only at home, but in the campe also, and a warfare.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xliv. I. 170. Rather yt we should go a warfare under the crosse.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 88. What iniurie doth the Prince to the Captaine that sendes him a warrefare, if he makes him sure to haue the victorie?
c. transf. and fig.
1549. E. Allen, Jude’s Par. Rev. vii. 9–12. So long as they remayne in the warrefare of this transitorye lyfe.
1657. Penit. Conf., 348. Nor can there in this spiritual warfare be better weapons than prayers and tears.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 118. Who, with herself, or others, from her birth Finds all her life one warfare upon earth.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 291. All the various artillery of fashionable warfare.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 194. They are most skilful in legal warfare.
