enemy */*/*/

UK [ˈenəmɪ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "enemy":
singular enemy plural enemies

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.

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.

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.

c) something that harms or threatens someone or something

enemy of:

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

•

- public enemy number one

See:

sworn I, 2), worst I