Truce

Origin

Middle English trewes, trues (plural), from Old English trēowa, plural of trēow‘belief, trust,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch trouw and German Treue, also to true.

• 13th Century

Definitions

• 1: an agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting or arguing for a certain time: the guerrillas called a three-day truce.

Description

A ceasefire (or truce) is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces. A ceasefire is usually more limited than a broader armistice, which is a formal agreement to end fighting. Successful ceasefires may be followed by armistices, and finally by peace treaties.