Taken from: "The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language", ed. 1969, p. 1444
"WAR, noun. 1. a. A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states or parties. b.The period of such conflict. 2. Any condition of active antagonism or contention: "O, what a war of looks there was between them!" (Shakespeare). 3. The techniques or procedures of war; military science; strategy. - at war. In an active state of conflict or contention: "Life and death are at war within us" (Thomas Merton). - declare war on. To state formally the intention to carry on hostilities against. - intr. verb, warred, warring, wars. 1. To wage or carry on war. 2. To be in a state of hostility; contend. - adjective, Of, resulting from, or used in war. [Middle English, werre, warre, from Old North French werre, from Old High German werra, confusion, strife."