I. ˈhä]st ə l also ]ˌstīl or ](ˌ)stil sometimes ˈhȯ] adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin hostilis, from hostis stranger, enemy + -ilis -ile — more at guest
1.
a. : of or relating to an enemy
a hostile army
hostile territory
turned the guns toward a hostile position
b. : marked by malevolence and a desire to injure
might commit some hostile act, attempt to strike me or choke me — Jack London
c. : marked by antagonism or unfriendliness
the instinct of Americans has always been hostile to the alignment of classes in political parties — H.S.Commager
d. : marked by resistance especially to new ideas : unfavorable especially to the new or strange
are hostile to the idea of literature for the sake of enjoyment — M.R.Cohen
e. : offering an unpleasant or forbidding environment : not hospitable
searching the hostile glaring desert for gold — American Guide Series: Arizona
maps of the area indicated the hostile character of the land — C.L.Walker
2.
a. : of or relating to an opposing party in a legal controversy
hostile claim
b. : adverse to the interests of an owner or possessor of property
hostile use
hostile title
c. of a witness : subject to cross-examination because of evident hostility shown during direct examination
II. noun
( -s )
: one that is hostile ; especially : an American Indian unfriendly to whites
ought to have guessed the hostiles would try to come in here — Alan LeMay