GC: n

S: FWW – http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/armistice.htm (last access: 7 November 2014); EncBrit – http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/35413/armistice (last access: 7 November 2014).

N: 1. 1707, from French armistice (1680s), from Latin arma “arms” + -stitium, suffixed form of root sta- “to stand”.
The word is attested in English from 1660s in the Latin form armistitium.
German Waffenstillstand is a loan-translation from French.
2. Temporary and agreed suspension of hostilities, without putting an end to а state of war. An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting.
3. A truce or ceasefire usually refers to a temporary cessation of hostilities for an agreed limited time or within a limited area. A truce may be needed in order to negotiate an armistice. An armistice is a modus vivendi and is not the same as a peace treaty, which may take months or even years to agree on.
4. The 1953 Korean War Armistice is a major example of an armistice which has not been followed by a peace treaty.
5. Collocations:

• Verb + armistice: ask for, call for, seek | negotiate, work out | agree to, sign
• Prep.: armistice with to sign an armistice with the Americans.

6. Cultural interrelation: Armistice Day (1919) marked the end of the Great War of 1914-18 on November 11, 1918. In Britain, after World War II, it merged with Remembrance Day. In U.S., Armistice Day became a national holiday in 1926. In 1954, to honor World War II and Korean War veterans as well, it was re-dubbed Veterans Day.

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=armistice (last access: 7 November 2014). 2, 3 & 4. MILDIC – http://www.mildic.com/fr/fr-en/word/90 (last access: 28 October 2014). 5. OZDIC – http://www.ozdic.com/collocation-dictionary/armistice (last access: 18 May 2015). 6. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=armistice (last access: 7 November 2014).

SYN:
S:

CR: amnesty, ceasefire, peace-keeping, truce.