enemy
Definitions
A person who is actively hostile or opposed to someone.
敌人，仇敌。
A hostile nation or its armed forces in a war.
敌国；敌军。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Latin inimīcus = in- (not) + amīcus (friend), literally 'not-a-friend.' Old French wore inimīcus down to enemi, and English to enemy. The 'en-' here is the Latin negative in-, and the 'emy' is what's left of amīcus — so 'friend' is hiding inside the most common word for its opposite.
Root am still carries 14 more wordsWhy It Means This
Because the word was smoothed by centuries of French and English pronunciation, the original in- + amīcus structure is invisible to a modern reader — you have to be told that 'enemy' literally means 'un-friend.' Its formal cousins inimical and enmity keep more of the old shape.
Common Collocations
- 1.make an enemy树敌
- 2.sworn enemy死敌
- 3.behind enemy lines在敌后
- 4.enemy territory敌方领土
- 5.public enemy公敌
Example Sentences
- 1.
He made a powerful enemy when he exposed the scandal.
- 2.
The enemy launched an attack at dawn.
- 3.
Procrastination is the enemy of good work.
Synonym Comparison
- enemy — a person or force actively hostile to you; the broadest, everyday word
- foe — literary or rhetorical for enemy: friend or foe
- adversary — a formal opponent, often in a contest, court, or debate (not necessarily hateful)
- rival — competes for the same thing (a job, a prize) but need not be hostile
- opponent — simply the other side in a game, vote, or argument; neutral