Definition of militate
militated
;militating
intransitive verb
: to have weight or effect his boyish appearance militated against his getting an early promotion
From the M-W Editors
Is mitigate against correct?
Mitigate is sometimes used as an intransitive (followed by against) where militate might be expected. Even though Faulkner used it some intangible and invisible social force that mitigates against him — William Faulkner and one critic thinks it should be called an American idiom, it is usually considered a mistake.
Origin and Etymology of militate
Latin militatus, past participle of militare to engage in warfare, from milit-, miles
First Known Use: 1598
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