English
enemy
Enemy comes from Old French enemi, from Latin inimīcus ‘enemy’, from in- ‘not’ + amīcus ‘friend’, from amō ‘to love’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamō‘to love’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEamīcus‘friend’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinimīcus‘enemy’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400enemi
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500enemy‘an opponent of the true religion’
- Englishearliest quotation 1963same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamō‘to love’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEamīcus‘friend’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinimīcus‘enemy’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400enemi
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500enemy‘an opponent of the true religion’
- Englishearliest quotation 1963same form
Earliest quotation: 1963, The Castles and the Crown: Spain: “These prelates and nobles, seeing themselves dispossessed by the…”
Linked words
through Latin amō ‘to love’
through Latin amīcus ‘friend’
amicable, amity, amigo, amiable, 5 more
through Latin inimīcus ‘enemy, foe’
Today it means
noun Someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin amō / enemy