Sortie Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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sortie
[ˈsɔːrti ]
Definitions
military mission
A sortie is a mission or deployment undertaken by a military unit, often involving a flight or attack operation. Historically, the term has been associated with aircraft missions, particularly during wartime, where aircraft take off to engage in combat or reconnaissance.
Synonyms
deployment, mission, operation.
Examples of usage
- The pilots prepared for their next sortie at dawn.
- After a successful sortie, the crew returned to base.
- The sortie involved multiple aircraft covering different sectors.
literary adventure
In a literary context, a sortie can refer to a brief excursion or adventure, often leading to new experiences or challenges. This usage evokes the sense of a journey out of the ordinary, often for personal exploration.
Synonyms
adventure, excursion, exploration.
Examples of usage
- Her novel features a sortie into the unknown.
- They went on a spontaneous sortie through the city.
- Each sortie revealed more about their characters.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Military Usage
- Sorties are common in aerial combat, where fighter jets leave a base to conduct missions.
- Historically, they played a crucial role in sieges, where troops would make sudden attacks on besieging forces.
Pop Culture
- The term has appeared in various films and video games, often relating to military strategy and tactical warfare.
- In the game 'Star Wars: Battlefront', players conduct sorties to achieve objectives against opposing forces.
Historical Significance
- During World War II, sorties were vital for air raids, including significant events like the bombing of Dresden.
- The concept of sortie is essential in understanding wartime tactics, including how battles are planned and executed.
Sports and Recreation
- In paragliding and other aerial sports, a 'sortie' can refer to the flight taken by an athlete from a launch point.
- Mountain climbers also use the term to describe trips away from a base camp to explore or climb nearby peaks.
Origin of 'sortie'
Main points about word origin
- Derived from the French word 'sortir', meaning 'to go out', reflecting the action of leaving a place.
- The term has been in use since the late 19th century, especially in military contexts.
The word 'sortie' originates from the French term 'sortie', which means 'a going out, an exit'. It derived from the Latin word 'exir', meaning 'to go out' or 'to come out'. The term began to be used in English in the late 19th century, primarily in military contexts. Initially, it referred to a sudden attack by troops or a flight launched from a base, especially in aerial warfare. Over time, its usage expanded to encompass various forms of missions and external ventures, both in military and literary settings, reflecting the idea of venturing out from a secure position into the unknown.