duello

duel

noun dwEHL-loh Rare

Origin: Medieval Latin duellum, archaic form of bellum (war)

Usage Note

Duello originally referred to a formal combat between two individuals to settle a point of honor, widespread in 19th-century Italy. Today it is used figuratively for any direct confrontation — a rhetorical duello in a debate or a sporting head-to-head. The plural duelli is regular.

Examples

"I due avversari si sfidarono a duello."

Natural Translation

The two opponents challenged each other to a duel.

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