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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | enemi, from Latin inimicus, from amicus 'friend' |
1 someone who hates you and wants to harm you : 
She's a dangerous enemy to have.the unforgettable sight of the president shaking hands with his sworn enemy (=an enemy you will always hate)
She's a dangerous enemy to have.the unforgettable sight of the president shaking hands with his sworn enemy (=an enemy you will always hate)2 someone who opposes or competes against you : political enemies He was imprisoned for being 'an enemy of the revolution'.
political enemiesHe was imprisoned for being 'an enemy of the revolution'.3PM also the enemy the country against which your country is fighting in a war : He was accused of collaboration with the enemy.
He was accused of collaboration with the enemy.4 something that people think is harmful or damaging : The usual enemies, cigarettes and alcohol, are targeted for tax rises.
The usual enemies, cigarettes and alcohol, are targeted for tax rises.6 someone famous who has done something bad and who a lot of people do not like : His views made him public enemy number one in the eyes of the media.
public enemy number one
informalHis views made him public enemy number one in the eyes of the media.7 people in a society etc that other people think are trying to secretly destroy or damage it : efforts to label environmentalists as the enemy within
the enemy within
efforts to label environmentalists as the enemy within8 if one thing is the enemy of another, the second thing cannot exist because the first thing destroys it : Boredom is the enemy of learning.
Boredom is the enemy of learning.