Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
The able-bodied men over 15 in a given county who can be summoned by the sheriff to help keep the peace, or arrest a felon; also a group of men so gathered.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any band of men, especially armed or hostile.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a temporary police force
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: posse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: police, police force, constabulary, law
History
From Late Latin posse comitātūs (“force of the county”, literally “power of the county”).
