enemy

en|e|my [ `enəmi ] noun count ***

someone who is opposed to someone else and tries to do them harm:

He must hide from his enemies while he is weak.

make an enemy of someone: Worst of all is to make an enemy of the Minister.

a political enemy: They searched for information on political enemies.

enemy of: They had been labeled enemies of the state.

make enemies: There was a reign of terror, and he made more and more enemies.

a mortal enemy (=someone who will always be your enemy): She looked at her husband as if he were her mortal enemy.

a. a country that is fighting another country in a war:

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.

─ opposite FRIEND

be your own worst enemy

to behave in a way that harms you much more than other people harm you

public enemy number one

someone that other people dislike or consider as harmful:

She was being made to feel like public enemy number one.