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nemesis - 5 dictionary results

nem⋅e⋅sis

[nem-uh-sis]
–noun, plural -ses [-seez] .
1. something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc.: The performance test proved to be my nemesis.
2. an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
3. (initial capital letter) Classical Mythology. the goddess of divine retribution.
4. an agent or act of retribution or punishment.

Origin:
< L < Gk némesis lit., a dealing out, verbid of némein to dispense (justice); see -sis


1. Waterloo. 4. downfall, undoing, ruin, Waterloo.
nem·e·sis   (něm'ĭ-sĭs)   
n.   pl. nem·e·ses (-sēz')
  1. A source of harm or ruin: Uncritical trust is my nemesis.
  2. Retributive justice in its execution or outcome: To follow the proposed course of action is to invite nemesis.
  3. An opponent that cannot be beaten or overcome.
  4. One that inflicts retribution or vengeance.
  5. Nemesis Greek Mythology The goddess of retributive justice or vengeance.

[Greek, retribution, the goddess Nemesis, from nemein, to allot; see nem- in Indo-European roots.]

Nemesis

Nem"e*sis\, n. [L., fr. gr. ?, orig., distribution, fr. ? to distribute. See Nomad.] (Class. Myth.) The goddess of retribution or vengeance; hence, retributive justice personified; divine vengeance.

This is that ancient doctrine of nemesis who keeps watch in the universe, and lets no offense go unchastised. --Emerson.

Nemesis [(nem-uh-sis)]

In classical mythology, the Greek goddess of vengeance.

Note: By extension, a “nemesis” is an avenger. One's nemesis is that which will bring on one's destruction or downfall.

Nemesis 
1576, "Gk. goddess of vengeance," from nemesis "just indignation, jealousy, vengeance," lit. "distribution," related to nemein "distribute, allot, apportion one's due," from PIE base *nem- "to divide, distribute, allot, to take" (cf. O.E., Goth. niman "to take," Ger. nehmen). With a lower-case -n-, in the sense of "retributive justice," attested from 1597. General sense of "anything by which it seems one must be defeated" is 20c.
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