Adjacent Words

Adversary definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AD'VERSARY, n. [See Adverse.]
1. An enemy or foe; one who has enmity at heart.
The Lord shall take vengeance on his adversaries. Nahum 1.
In scripture, Satan is called THE adversary, by way of eminence. 1 Peter 5.
2. An opponent or antagonist, as in a suit at law, or in single combat; an opposing litigant.
AD'VERSARY, a. Opposed; opposite to; adverse. In law, having an opposing party, as an adversary suit; in distinction from an application, in law or equity, to which no opposition is made.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: someone who offers opposition [syn: adversary, antagonist, opponent, opposer, resister] [ant: agonist]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural -saries) Date: 14th century one that contends with, opposes, or resists ; enemy • adversariness noun II. adjective Date: 14th century 1. of, relating to, or involving an adversary 2. having or involving antagonistic parties or opposing interests <divorce can be an adversary proceeding>

U.S. Military Dictionary

A party acknowledged as potentially hostile to a friendly party and against which the use of force may be envisaged. (JP 3-0)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -ies) 1 an enemy. 2 an opponent in a sport or game; an antagonist. Etymology: ME f. OF adversarie f. L adversarius f. adversus: see ADVERSE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Adversary Ad"ver*sa*ry, a. 1. Opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic. [Archaic] --Bp. King. 2. (Law) Having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an adversary suit.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Adversary Ad`ver*sa*ry, n.; pl. Adversaries. [OE. adversarie, direct fr. the Latin, and adversaire, fr. OF. adversier, aversier, fr. L. adversarius (a.) turned toward, (n.) an adversary. See Adverse.] One who is turned against another or others with a design to oppose

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(adversaries) Your adversary is someone you are competing with, or arguing or fighting against. His political adversaries were creating a certain amount of trouble for him. = opponent, enemy ? ally N-COUNT: usu with supp

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Heb. satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25; Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant (Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58); an enemy (Luke 18:3), and specially the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ad'-ver-sa-ri, ad'-ver-sa-ri: This word (in the singular or plural) is used in the Old Testament to render different Hebrew words. In thirty-two cases the word corresponds to the noun tsar, or the verb tsarar. This noun is the ordinary word for "foe" or "adversary." In twelve passages the Hebrew word, of which "adversary" is the translation, is saTan = noun or saTan = verb. This stem means "to oppose," or "thwart" anyone in his purpose or claims.

The angel of Yahweh was saTan to Balaam (Nu 22:22). The word often denotes a political adversary (1Ki 11:14,23,25). In four cases (namely, Prologue to Job; Zec 3:1,2; 1Ch 21:1; Ps 109:6) the King James Version retains Satan as the rendering. But it is only in 1 Chronicles that the word is used without the article, that is, strictly as a proper name. The Septuagint gives diabolos, as the rendering, and both in Job and Zechariah, Satan is portrayed as the "false accuser." In two cases "adversary" represents two Hebrew expressions which mean the "opponent in a suit" or "controversy" (Job 31:35; Isa 50:8).

In the New Testament "adversary" represents:

(1) antikeimenoi, the participle of a verb which means "to be set over against," "to be opposed" (Lu 13:17; Php 2:8).

(2) antidikos, "opponent in a lawsuit," "prosecutor" (Mt 5:25; Lu 12:58; 18:3; 1Pe 5:8).

According to the last passage the devil is the "accuser" or "prosecutor" of believers, but according to another writer they have an "advocate" or "counselor for the defense" with the Father (1Jo 2:1). In one passage (Heb 10:27) "adversary" represents a Greek word, hupenantios, which means "set over against," "contrary to"--a word used in classical Greek and in the Septuagint.

Thomas Lewis

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Enemy, foe, antagonist, opponent, opposer, counter-litigant, adverse party. 2. [With The prefixed.] Satan, Apollyon, the Tempter, the Evil One, the Devil, the Deuce, the Fiend, the Foul Fiend, the Old Serpent, the Prince of Darkness, Beelzebub. See devil.

Moby Thesaurus

adversative, adverse, alien, antagonist, antagonistic, anti, antipathetic, antithetic, archenemy, assailant, bitter enemy, clashing, combatant, competitive, competitor, con, conflicting, contradictory, contrary, counter, cross, devil, disaccordant, dissentient, enemy, foe, foeman, fractious, hostile, inimical, negative, noncooperative, obstinate, open enemy, opponent, opposed, opposing, opposing party, opposite, opposite camp, oppositional, oppositive, oppugnant, overthwart, perverse, public enemy, recalcitrant, refractory, repugnant, rival, sworn enemy, the loyal opposition, the opposition, uncooperative, unfavorable, unfriendly, unpropitious