Adversary
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Adversary \Ad`ver*sa*ry\, n.; pl. {Adversaries}. [OE.
adversarie, direct fr. the Latin, and adversaire, fr. OF.
adversier, aversier, fr. L. adversarius (a.) turned toward,
(n.) an adversary. See {Adverse}.]
One who is turned against another or others with a design to
oppose or resist them; a member of an opposing or hostile
party; an opponent; an antagonist; an enemy; a foe.
[1913 Webster]
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Agree with thine adversary quickly. --Matt. v. 25.
[1913 Webster]
It may be thought that to vindicate the permanency of
truth is to dispute without an adversary. --Beattie.
[1913 Webster]
{The Adversary}, The Satan, or the Devil.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: {Adversary}, {Enemy}, {Opponent}, {Antagonist}.
Usage: Enemy is the only one of these words which necessarily
implies a state of personal hostility. Men may be
adversaries, antagonists, or opponents to each other
in certain respects, and yet have no feelings of
general animosity. An adversary may be simply one who
is placed for a time in a hostile position, as in a
lawsuit, an argument, in chess playing, or at fence.
An opponent is one who is ranged against another
(perhaps passively) on the opposing side; as a
political opponent, an opponent in debate. An
antagonist is one who struggles against another with
active effort, either in a literal fight or in verbal
debate.
[1913 Webster]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Adversary
(Heb. satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25;
Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant
(Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58); an enemy (Luke 18:3), and specially
the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
57 Moby Thesaurus words for "adversary":
adversative, adverse, alien, antagonist, antagonistic, anti,
antipathetic, antithetic, archenemy, assailant, bitter enemy,
clashing, combatant, competitive, competitor, con, conflicting,
contradictory, contrary, counter, cross, devil, disaccordant,
dissentient, enemy, foe, foeman, fractious, hostile, inimical,
negative, noncooperative, obstinate, open enemy, opponent, opposed,
opposing, opposing party, opposite, opposite camp, oppositional,
oppositive, oppugnant, overthwart, perverse, public enemy,
recalcitrant, refractory, repugnant, rival, sworn enemy,
the loyal opposition, the opposition, uncooperative, unfavorable,
unfriendly, unpropitious
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