the modern english term "militia" dates to the year 1590, with the original meaning now obsolete: "the body of soldiers in the service of a sovereign or a state". subsequently, since approximately 1665, "militia" has taken the meaning "a military force raised from the civilian population of a country or region, especially to supplement a regular army in an emergency, frequently as distinguished from mercenaries or professional soldiers". the u.s. supreme court adopted the following definition for "active militia" from an illinois supreme court case of 1879: " 'a body of citizens trained to military duty, who may be called out in certain cases, but may not be kept on service like standing armies, in times of peace'. . . when not engaged at stated periods . . . they return to their usual avocations . . . and are subject to call when public exigencies demand it."