also: もうぜい
noun
great strength; fierce force
Archaic noun for overwhelming power or momentum, often of an army or natural force. Usually read もうせい.
敵軍は猛勢で攻め寄せた。
The enemy army attacked with great force.
noun
courageous army; valiant troops
Archaic term for a brave or fierce military force. Rare in modern Japanese.
猛勢を率いて戦場に向かった。
He led his valiant troops to the battlefield.
Compound of 猛 (fierce, vigorous) and 勢 (force, energy). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning.