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enemy

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noun [countable] British English pronunciation: enemy /ˈenəmi/ 
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singularenemy
pluralenemies
Other entries for this word
  1. someone who is opposed to someone else and tries to do them harm

    He must hide from his enemies while he is weak.

    enemy of:

    They had been labelled enemies of the state.

    make an enemy of someone:

    Worst of all is to make an enemy of the Minister.

    make enemies:

    It's easy to make enemies in a job like this.

    a mortal enemy (=someone who will always be your enemy):

    She looked at her husband as if he were her mortal enemy.

    a political enemy:

    They searched for information on political enemies.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of enemy
    1. a.
      a country that is fighting another country in a war: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

      We must be ready to resist an assault by sea from this country's enemies.

      the enemy:

      He had to discourage the enemy from attempting to attack his position.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of enemy
    2. b.
      relating to a country's enemy
      enemy attack/troops/aircraft/forces etc:

      The Serbs were determined to halt the enemy attacks.

      Over three hundred enemy aircraft were destroyed.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of enemy
    3. c.
      something that harms or threatens someone or something
      enemy of:

      Cigarette smoke is the undoubted enemy of a clear fresh complexion.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of enemy

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This is the British English definition of enemy. View American English definition of enemy.

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