combatant

noun

1. A person engaged in combat, often armed.

   “Gladiators were combatants who fought to the death to entertain the public.”

   “Come hither, you that would be combatants: Henceforth I charge you, as you love our favour, Quite to forget this quarrel and the cause.”

   “On the passage, one day, for the diversion of those gentlemen, all the boys were called on the quarter deck, and were paired proportionably, and then made to fight; after which the gentlemen gave the combatants from five to nine shillings each.”

   “If any combatant was struck down, and unable to recover his feet, his squire or page might enter the lists, and drag his master out of the press; but in that case the knight was adjudged vanquished […]”

   ““[…] Don’t you realize that alcohol is an essential part of heroism? The combatant and the drunkard are brothers, you genius.””

adj

1. Contending; disposed to contend.

   “Their valours are not yet so combatant, Or truly antagonistick, as to fight;”

2. Involving combat.

   “He wished he were in a combatant service; he wanted to fight, fight.”

3. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of combattant (“in heraldry: in a fighting position”).

   “Or, two lions combatant gules, armed and langued (that is, claws and tongue) azure, is borne by the name of Wycombe; Azure , two lions combatant or, by the name of Carter; Azure , two lions combatant guardant argent, by […]”