aggression
pronunciation
How to pronounce aggression in British English:
UK [əˈɡreʃn]
How to pronounce aggression in American English:
US [əˈɡreʃn]
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- Noun:
- a disposition to behave aggressively
- a feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack
- violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked
- the act of initiating hostilities
- deliberately unfriendly behavior
Word Origin
- aggression
- aggression: [17] The violent associations of aggression have developed from the much milder notion of ‘approaching’ somebody. The Latin verb aggredī ‘attack’ was based on the prefix ad- ‘towards’ and gradī ‘walk’, a verb derived in its turn from the noun gradus ‘step’ (from which English gets, among many others, grade, gradual, and degree).=> degree, grade, gradual
- aggression (n.)
- 1610s, "unprovoked attack," from French aggression (16c.), from Latin aggressionem (nominative aggressio) "a going to, an attack," noun of action from past participle stem of aggredi "to approach; attack," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + gradi (past participle gressus) "to step," from gradus "a step" (see grade (n.)). Psychological sense of "hostile or destructive behavior" first recorded 1912 in A.A. Brill's translation of Freud.
Antonym
Example
- 1. His behavior ranged from self-injury to aggression against others .
- 2. It promotes both aggression and risky behaviour .
- 3. Yet russia has notpursued military aggression elsewhere .
- 4. In the face of this aggression the international community took action .
- 5. The emperor has long been in the admirable habit of apologising for japanese aggression .