enemy
[ en-uh-mee ]
/ ˈɛn ə mi /
noun, plural en·e·mies.
adjective
belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals: enemy property.
Obsolete.
inimical; ill-disposed.
Origin of enemy
SYNONYMS FOR enemy
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 ).
usage note for enemy
See
collective noun.
OTHER WORDS FROM enemy
non·en·e·my, noun, plural non·en·e·mies.Words nearby enemy
Example sentences from the Web for enemy
British Dictionary definitions for enemy
enemy
/ (ˈɛnəmɪ) /
noun plural -mies
a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent
- an armed adversary; opposing military force
- (as modifier)enemy aircraft
- a hostile nation or people
- (as modifier)an enemy alien
something that harms or opposes; adversary
courage is the enemy of failure
Other words from enemy
Related adjective: inimicalWord Origin for enemy
C13: from Old French
enemi, from Latin
inimīcus hostile, from
in-
1 +
amīcus friend