ENEMY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does enemy mean? 

• ENEMY (noun)
  The noun ENEMY has 4 senses:

1. an opposing military force

2. an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

3. any hostile group of people

4. a personal enemy

  Familiarity information: ENEMY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENEMY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An opposing military force

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

the enemy attacked at dawn

Hypernyms ("enemy" is a kind of...):

force; military force; military group; military unit (a unit that is part of some military service)

Meronyms (members of "enemy"):

enemy; foe; foeman; opposition (an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force))

Sense 2

Meaning:

An armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

enemy; foe; foeman; opposition

Context example:

a soldier must be prepared to kill his enemies

Hypernyms ("enemy" is a kind of...):

adversary; antagonist; opponent; opposer; resister (someone who offers opposition)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "enemy"):

besieger (an enemy who lays siege to your position)

Holonyms ("enemy" is a member of...):

enemy (an opposing military force)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Any hostile group of people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

he viewed lawyers as the real enemy

Hypernyms ("enemy" is a kind of...):

people ((plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A personal enemy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

enemy; foe

Context example:

they had been political foes for years

Hypernyms ("enemy" is a kind of...):

challenger; competition; competitor; contender; rival (the contestant you hope to defeat)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "enemy"):

mortal enemy (an enemy who wants to kill you)

 Context examples 

Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural prey.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The youth moved in the best society—had, so far as was known, no enemies and no particular vices.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is equally clear that his enemies, lying in wait for him near your door, mistook your husband for him in the foggy morning light.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Ah, it’s an ill conscience that’s such an enemy to rest!

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Second, you let the enemy out o' this here trap for nothing.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

When the fighting was over there was no one left of our enemies except just the warders, the mates, and the doctor.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The instant his feet touched the ground he seemed to recover his courage, and rushed at his natural enemies.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Yet I have known the king's enemies claim to ride in his same,” said Sir Nigel.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Enter the house of mourning, my friend, but with kindness and affection for those who love you, and not with hatred for your enemies.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short; and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice: Oh, thank you!

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)