hors de combatadv.
Out of fight, disabled from fighting; also figurative and transferred.
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the world > action or operation > ability > inability > disabled or out of action [phrase]
hors de combat1757
1757 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 4 July (1932) (modernized text) V. 2232 The King of Prussia..is now, I fear, hors de combat.
1767 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 19 Dec. (1932) (modernized text) VI. 2833 Lord Chatham is hors de combat, as a minister.
1776 B. Franklin Let. 4 Feb. in Wks. (1888) VI. 2 An arrow sticking in any part of a man puts him hors du combat till it is extracted.
1834 Blackwood's Mag. 36 18/1 Colonsay, turning tail, flings out savagely, and puts him hors de combat.
1894 G. Armatage Horse iv. 48 It will be generally found that out of a stud of four [hunters], one will be hors de combat.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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adv.1757