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enemy

 - 2 dictionary results

en⋅e⋅my

  [en-uh-mee] noun, plural -mies, adjective
Use enemy in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.
2. an armed foe; an opposing military force: The army attacked the enemy at dawn.
3. a hostile nation or state.
4. a citizen of such a state.
5. enemies, persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another: Let's make up and stop being enemies.
6. something harmful or prejudical: His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy.
7. the Enemy, the Devil; Satan.
–adjective
8. belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals: enemy property.
9. Obsolete. inimical; ill-disposed.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME enemi < AF, OF < L inimicus unfriendly, equiv. to in- in- 3 + amicus friendly, friend; see amicable

Usage note:
See collective noun.

Synonyms:
1. antagonist. Enemy, foe refer to a dangerous public or personal adversary. Enemy emphasizes the idea of hostility: to overcome the enemy; a bitter enemy. Foe, a more literary word, may be used interchangeably with enemy, but emphasizes somewhat more the danger to be feared from such a one: deadly foe; arch foe of humankind (the Devil).

Antonyms:
1. friend. 2. ally.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To enemy
en·e·my   (ěn'ə-mē)   
n.   pl. en·e·mies

  1. One who feels hatred toward, intends injury to, or opposes the interests of another; a foe.

    1. A hostile power or force, such as a nation.

    2. A member or unit of such a force.

  3. A group of foes or hostile forces. See Usage Note at collective noun.

  4. Something destructive or injurious in its effects: "Art hath an enemy called Ignorance" (Ben Jonson).

adj.  Of, relating to, or being a hostile power or force.

[Middle English enemi, from Old French, from Latin inimīcus : in-, not; see in-1 + amīcus, friend.]
Synonyms: These nouns denote one who is hostile to or opposes the purposes or interests of another: betrayed by enemies; a foe of fascism; a political opponent.
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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