levy en masse
- noun
- /ˈlɛvi ɑ̃ mɑs/
- Archaic
:
levy en masse
- During the revolution, the government declared a levy en masse to defend the country.
Examples
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A sudden levy en masse was needed to respond to the invasion threat.
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The government announced a levy en masse to bolster the army.
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The concept of levy en masse originated during the French Revolutionary Wars.
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During the crisis, a levy en masse was deemed necessary.
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In response to the growing threat, the nation implemented a levy en masse to ensure adequate defense manpower.
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Faced with an impending invasion, the leaders called for a levy en masse of all able-bodied citizens.
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Amidst the national crisis, a levy en masse was enacted, requiring thousands to join the military efforts.
Synonyms
9
8.0
An official order that makes people join the army
7
8.2
A system that by law makes people serve in the military
Antonyms
- Specialized
4
7.5
To release soldiers from military service and return them to civilian life
How Compulsory
Surface Forms
Morphology
levy + en + masse
The overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'levy' (to conscript or recruit) combined with the borrowed French phrase 'en masse' (literally 'in a mass' = all together) yields 'a mass or collective conscription.' Although 'en masse' is a loan phrase, its compositional sense is clear and would be predictable to a learner who knows the constituent meanings.
Etymology
Levy en masse comes from French: levy means taking people for service and en masse means 'all together'. During the French Revolution whole towns were called up to fight, so the phrase now means 'to draft large numbers of civilians'.