leitus
Leitus is a Latin noun that translates into English as “battle” or “combat.” The term appears in classical Roman literature, particularly in the works of Livy and Cicero, where it is employed to describe the circumstances or conduct of armed conflicts. In Livy (Ab Urbe Condita), the word often precedes descriptions of the strategies employed by Roman legions or the outcome of engagements, underscoring its use as a neutral, descriptive term. Cicero, in his political treatises, occasionally uses leitus in the context of state affairs, thereby implying that “battle” also serves as a metaphor for the struggle between political factions.
The etymology of leitus is traced to the earlier, Greek-derived root *leitos*, meaning combat, and the Latin
In a modern context, leitus occasionally appears in specialized legal or academic dictionaries as a technical
Because of its occasional appearance in medieval translations of classical texts, leitus has occasionally been misread