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Webster 1913 Edition


Enemy

En′e-my

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Enemies
(#)
.
[OF.
enemi
, F.
ennemi
, from L.
inimicus
;
in-
(negative) +
amicus
friend. See
Amicable
.]
One hostile to another; one who hates, and desires or attempts the injury of, another; a foe; an adversary;
as, an
enemy
of or to a person; an
enemy
to truth, or to falsehood.
To all good he
enemy
was still.
Spenser.
I say unto you, Love your
enemies
.
Matt. v. 44.
The enemy
(Mil.)
,
the hostile force. In this sense it is construed with the verb and pronoun either in the singular or the plural, but more commonly in the singular;
as, we have met
the enemy
and he is ours or they are ours
.

Syn. – Foe; antagonist; opponent. See
Adversary
.

En′e-my

,
Adj.
Hostile; inimical.
[Obs.]
They . . . every day grow more
enemy
to God.
Jer. Taylor.

Webster 1828 Edition


Enemy

EN'EMY

,
Noun.
[L. inimicus.]
1.
A foe; an adversary. A private enemy is one who hates another and wishes him injury, or attempts to do him injury to gratify his own malice or ill will. A public enemy or foe, is one who belongs to a nation or party, at war with another.
I way to you, love your enemies. Matt.5.
Enemies in war; in peace friends.
2.
One who hates or dislikes; as an enemy to truth or falsehood.
3.
In theology, and by way of eminence, the enemy is the Devil; the archfiend.
4.
In military affairs, the opposing army or naval force in war, is called the enemy.

Definition 2024


enemy

enemy

English

Alternative forms

Noun

enemy (plural enemies)

  1. Someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else.
    He made a lot of enemies after reducing the working hours in his department.
    Crush the enemy!
  2. A hostile force or nation; a fighting member of such a force or nation.
    rally together against a common enemy.
  3. An alliance of such forces.
  4. Something harmful or threatening to another
    • 2012 November 17, John Branch, “Snow Fall : The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in New York Time:
      The very thing the 16 skiers and snowboarders had sought — fresh, soft snow — instantly became the enemy. Somewhere above, a pristine meadow cracked in the shape of a lightning bolt, slicing a slab nearly 200 feet across and 3 feet deep. Gravity did the rest.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

  • Hebrew: (please verify)ציר m (tzir), (please verify)ליגה m (liga)
  • Yiddish: (please verify)שׂונא m (soyne)

Adjective

enemy (comparative more enemy, superlative most enemy)

  1. of, relating to, or belonging to an enemy

Translations

See also

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: system · sister · occasion · #728: enemy · perfect · bright · scarcely

Anagrams


Old French

Noun

enemy m (oblique plural enemys, nominative singular enemys, nominative plural enemy)

  1. Alternative form of enemi

Descendants