Apedia

Nemesis Immediately I Retribution B October Noun Nem Uh Siss

Nemesis refers to one who inflicts retribution or vengeance, a formidable rival, or a source of harm or ruin.

Nemesis refers to one who inflicts retribution or vengeance, a formidable rival, or a source of harm or ruin.

Word nemesis
Date October 14, 2016
Type noun
Syllables NEM-uh-siss
Etymology Nemesis was the Greek goddess of vengeance, a deity who doled out rewards for noble acts and punishment for evil ones. The Greeks believed that Nemesis didn't always punish an offender immediately but might wait generations to avenge a crime. In English, nemesis originally referred to someone who brought a just retribution, but nowadays people are more likely to see animosity than justice in the actions of a nemesis.
Examples "My nemesis was a young woman who, at the end of the film, had the honour of sending me to my doom at the bottom of a well. Her name meant nothing to me then: Jennifer Aniston." — Warwick Davis, Dailymail.com, 10 Apr. 2010

"The leaves were pale … and, upon closer inspection, the stems had small nibble marks on them. I immediately suspected slugs since they've been my nemesis in the past so I sprang into action." — Susan Mulvihill, The Spokesman Review (Spokane, Washington), 21 Aug. 2016
Definition 1 a : one that inflicts retribution or vengeance
b : a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent
2 a : an act or effect of retribution
b : a source of harm or ruin : curse

Tags: wordoftheday::noun

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Univocal sense meaning word latin october adjective yoo-niv-uh-kul

Previous card: Slip slipped ped   [v sth i small piece

Up to card list: Word of the Day