rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryenemyHostile opponent
noun

enemy

EN-uh-mee/ˈenəmi/

Someone or something hostile to or working against another.

Each hostile chess player regards the opponent across the board as an enemy.

Two opposing chess players glaring across a board, one white woman and one East Asian man, adversarial opposition.
Etymology
enLatinnot
+emyLatinfriend

The pieces literally mean “not a friend,” but the Latin compound already meant hostile or unfriendly. Enemy therefore names an active adversary, not merely someone outside one's circle of friends.

In context

Calvary Chapel Chino Valley49:13
the enemy is whispering in a lot of ears today to the church you're not going to make it
1 Timothy 6:11-12 "Pursue Righteousness"

More examples

  • They had once been allies but became bitter enemies.
  • Moisture is an enemy of these old paper records.
  • He refused to treat every critic as an enemy.

Forms

enemy · enemies

Similar words

adversary
An opponent without necessarily personal hostility.
foe
A more literary or emphatic hostile opponent.