Enemy ˈenəmi Face Noun World Lot Company Day

• she didn't have an enemy in the world.
• he has a lot of enemies in the company.
• after just one day, she had already made an enemy of her manager.
• they united in the face of a common enemy.

enemy

1. a person who hates somebody or who acts or speaks against somebody/something
• SEE ALSO enmity
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/enmity
• She didn't have an enemy in the world.
• He has a lot of enemies in the company.
• After just one day, she had already made an enemy of her manager.
• They united in the face of a common enemy.
• They used to be friends but they are now sworn enemies (= are determined not to become friends again).
• James Moriarty was Sherlock Holmes's mortal enemy.
• It is rare to find a prominent politician with few political enemies.
• The state has a duty to protect its citizens against external enemies.
• Birds are the natural enemies of many insect pests (= they kill them).
• The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
• ‘We will defeat the enemies of freedom,’ said the president.

Extra Examples

• He turned to face his enemy.
• He was prepared to use any weapon to fight against his enemies.
• I didn't want to make an enemy of Mr Evans.
• In today's match England play their old enemy, Scotland.
• It is important to know your enemy.
• The Church and the Communist Party were natural enemies.
• The cat uses its claws to protect itself against enemies.
• The lion is the zebra's chief enemy.
• The skunk releases a pungent smell to deter its enemies.
• Thousands of perceived enemies of the State were imprisoned.
2. a country or group that you are fighting a war against; the soldiers, etc. of this country or group
• The enemy was/were forced to retreat.
• to fight/defeat the enemy
• enemy forces/combatants
• The men came under enemy fire.
• They were dropped by parachute behind enemy lines (= in the area controlled by the enemy)

Extra Examples

• They decided to use the weapon against the enemy.
• He was shot for desertion in the face of the enemy.
• the first casualty from enemy action
• The spies managed to penetrate behind enemy lines.
• The document must not at any price fall into enemy hands.
• Intelligence reported enemy activity just off the coast.
3. anything that harms something or prevents it from being successful
• Poverty and ignorance are the enemies of progress.
4. to be the cause of your own problems
• Her indecisiveness makes her her own worst enemy.
• Some dancers become their own worst enemies, criticizing themselves for every imperfection.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French enemi, from Latin inimicus, from in- ‘not’ + amicus ‘friend’.