Question

If something militates against you, it fights against you, i.e., works to your disadvantage. Thus, your timidity may militate against your keeping your friends. Militate is always followed by the preposition against and, like obviate, never takes a personal subject—you don’t militate against anyone, but some habit, action, tendency, etc. militates against someone or something.

Accepted Answer

Militate derives from militis, one of the forms of the Latin noun meaning soldier or fighting man.  Word Power Made Easy SESSION 22

知识	If something militates against you, it fights against you, i.e., works to your disadvantage. Thus, your timidity may militate against your keeping your friends. Militate is always followed by the preposition against and, like obviate, never takes a personal subject—you don’t militate against anyone, but some habit, action, tendency, etc. militates against someone or something.
拓展	Militate derives from militis, one of the forms of the Latin noun meaning soldier or fighting man.
《》	war
出处	Word Power Made Easy SESSION 22

Militate Fights I.E Works Your Disadvantage Timidity Keeping Friends