Incursion

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɪŋˈkɜː(ɹ)ʒən/

Definitions

1. A sudden invasion or attack into a territory, typically brief and unauthorized
2. A sudden and often unwelcome entry into a territory, characterized by its brief nature and potential for conflict
3. A swift and unexpected invasion of a place, generally carried out without permission and lasting only a short time

Etymology: "Incursion" comes from Latin "incursio," a noun built from "incurrere," meaning "to run into" or "to run in." The core image is motion toward a place: to incur was originally to run at or into something, an action rather than a state. The Latin noun carried that sense of a rush or attack, and the word later passed into English through Old French. Middle English borrowed it in the same charged sense it had in Latin, a sudden raid or hostile entry into territory. The English word kept that military flavour, which is why it still suggests a brief, unwelcome foray across a border rather than a slow occupation. The sense of a sudden running-in has stayed intact for centuries, so the word describes the attack itself rather than the lasting conquest that might follow.

Synonyms: invasion, attack, raid, intrusion, infiltration

Antonyms: withdrawal, retreat