/en"euh mee/ , n. , pl. enemies , adj.
n.
1. a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.
2. an armed foe; an opposing military force: The army attacked the enemy at dawn.
3. a hostile nation or state.
4. a citizen of such a state.
5. enemies , persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another: Let's make up and stop being enemies.
6. something harmful or prejudical: His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy.
7. the Enemy , the Devil; Satan.
adj.
8. belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals: enemy property.
9. Obs. inimical; ill-disposed.
[ 1250-1300; ME enemi inimicus unfriendly, equiv. to in- IN- 3 + amicus friendly, friend; see AMICABLE ]
Usage . See collective noun .
Syn. 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 ).
Ant. 1. friend. 2. ally.