Etymograph

English

inimical

Inimical comes from Latin inimīcālis ‘hostile’, from inimīcus ‘enemy’, and ultimately from amō ‘to love’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamō‘to love’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEamīcus‘friend’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinimīcus‘enemy’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinimīcālis‘hostile’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 2008inimical

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEamō‘to love’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEamīcus‘friend’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinimīcus‘enemy’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinimīcālis‘hostile’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 2008inimical

Earliest quotation: 2008, Harriet A. Washington, Southern Discomfort: “Slaves knew that some of the treatments worsened problems…”

Linked words

through Latin amō ‘to love’

amour, amenity, 20 more

through Latin amīcus ‘friend’

amity, amiable, amigo, amicable, 5 more

through Latin inimīcus ‘enemy’

enemy, enmity, 3 more

Today it means

adj Harmful in effect.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin amō / inimical

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