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adversary

 - 6 dictionary results

ad⋅ver⋅sar⋅y

  [ad-ver-ser-ee] noun, plural -sar⋅ies, adjective
Use adversary in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent; enemy; foe.
2. a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest; contestant.
3. the Adversary, the devil; Satan.
–adjective Also, especially British, ad⋅ver⋅sar⋅i⋅al  [ad-ver-sair-ee-uhl] .
4. of or pertaining to an adversary.
5. involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding: an adversary trial.
Origin:
1300–50; ME adversarie < L adversārius, equiv. to advers(us) (see adverse ) + -ārius -ary; r. ME adversere < AF

Related forms:
ad⋅ver⋅sar⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. Adversary, antagonist mean a person or a group contending against another. Adversary suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly: a formidable adversary. Antagonist suggests one who, in hostile spirit, opposes another, often in a particular contest or struggle: a duel with an antagonist.

Antonyms:
1. ally.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To adversary
ad·ver·sar·y   (ād'vər-sěr'ē)   
n.   pl. ad·ver·sar·ies

  1. An opponent; an enemy.

  2. Adversary The Devil; Satan. Often used with the.


[Middle English adversarie, from Latin adversārius, enemy, from adversus, against; see adverse.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

adversary 
1330, aduersere, from Anglo-Fr. adverser (13c.), from O.Fr. adversier, from L. adversarius "opponent, adversary, rival," lit. "turned toward one," from adversus "turned against" (see adverse). The L. word is glossed in O.E. by wiðerbroca.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: 1ad·ver·sary
Pronunciation: 'ad-v&r-"ser-E
Function: noun
: one that contends with or opposes another; especially : any of the opposing parties in a legal action

Main Entry: 2adversary
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or involving opposing parties or interests; specifically : of, relating to, or involving a system of justice in which opposing parties usually represented by counsel present evidence to an impartial decision-maker (as a jury) by a process of questioning witnesses under the supervision of a judge —compare ACCUSATORIAL, INQUISITORIAL
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Bible Dictionary

Adversary

(Heb. satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25; Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant (Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58); an enemy (Luke 18:3), and specially the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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