Fight (fīt), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Fought (fa̤t); p. pr. & vb. n.Fighting.] [OE. fihten, fehten, AS. feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G. fechten, Sw. fäkta, Dan. fegte, and perh. to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare to fight, pugnus fist.] 1. To strive or contend for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; — followed by with or against.
You do fight against your country's foes. Shak.
To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. Milton.
2. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance.
To fight shy, to avoid meeting fairly or at close quarters; to keep out of reach.