War to End War
- noun
- Archaic
:
Guerra para acabar con la guerra
- Many believed that World War I would be the War to End War, but history proved otherwise.
Examples
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Historians often refer to the First World War as the War to End War due to the hopes it inspired.
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H. G. Wells described the conflict as the War to End War in his writings during 1914.
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The War to End War was supposed to bring lasting peace.
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Many believed that the War to End War would change history.
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Historians often refer to the First World War as the War to End War due to the hopes it inspired.
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Many believed that World War I would be the War to End War, but history proved otherwise.
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H. G. Wells described the conflict as the War to End War in his writings during 1914.
Synonyms
24
2.8
A large war in Europe from 1914 to 1918 between many countries, also called World War I
14
4.2
A war in Europe from 1914 to 1918 between the Allies and Central Powers
12
3.0
A global war fought mainly in Europe from 1914 to 1918 between the Allies and Central Powers
2
3.0
A large war that many countries fought from 1914 to 1918
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally transparent: the structure 'war to end war' reads as a war whose purpose is to end wars, and a B1 learner who knows 'war', 'to' (purpose), and 'end' can derive this meaning. The specific historical reference to World War I is encyclopedic knowledge but not required to understand the basic purposive meaning, so the expression is transparent.
Etymology
War to End War comes from World War I, when writers like H. G. Wells and many people hoped this great war would 'end all wars'. That's why the phrase is used for World War I and for the hopeful idea that one war could stop future fighting.