the holy league

1 definition found

the holy league - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  League \League\ (l[=e]g), n. [F. ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare
     to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. Ally a confederate, Ligature.]
     1. An alliance or combination of two or more nations,
        parties, organizations, or persons, for the accomplishment
        of a purpose which requires a continued course of action,
        as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial,
        religious, or political interests, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And let there be
              'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. --Denham.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Specifically: (Sports) An association of sports teams that
        establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership
        in the league, and organizes matches between the member
        teams. In some cases a sports league is called a
        conference, as in the National Football Conference.
        [PJC]
  
     Note: A league may be offensive or defensive, or both;
           offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking
           a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual
           defense of each other against an enemy.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     The Holy League, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in
        1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion
        of Protestants from the throne of France.
  
     Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant,2.
  
     The land league, an association, organized in Dublin in
        1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its
        avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure, fair
        rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was
        declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions
        have failed to suppress it.
  
     Syn: Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition;
          combination; compact; cooperation.
          [1913 Webster]