"warlike nature or actions," 1804; see belligerent + -ence. Related: belligerency. Middle English had belligeration "warfare."
Entries linking to belligerence
belligerent adj.
1570s, "waging war, engaged in hostilities," from Latin belligerantem (nominative belligerans), past participle of belligerare "to wage war," from bellum "war" (see bellicose) + gerere "to bear, to carry" (see gest). The noun meaning "party or nation at war" is from 1811. Related: Belligerently.