Enmity and Enemy Come From Not Being a Friend
Enmity is active hostility. The Latin behind enemy is simply not-friend, a negative built on the word for love.
Enmity is the state of being an enemy, active hostility. The Latin *inimicus* is a plain negative: *in-*, not, plus *amicus*, friend, from *amare*, to love. An enemy is defined by the absence of friendship rather than by any quality of their own, which is a striking way for a language to build the concept.
- Active hostility. *Long-standing enmity.*
- Enemy — one who is hostile. *A sworn enemy.*
- Amity — friendship, the opposite. *A treaty of amity.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | enmity | Bitter enmity. |
| Plural | enmities | Old enmities. |
| Person | enemy | A common enemy. |
| Opposite | amity | Amity between nations. |
| Related | amicable | An amicable split. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Centuries of enmity ended.Hostility.
- An amicable settlement was reached.Friendly.
- Enemy means not-friend.Latin *in* plus *amicus*.
Words from *amare*, to love
- Amicable — friendly
- Amity — friendship between states
- Amateur — one who does something for love of it
- Enemy — not a friend
- Amorous — showing love
From Old French *enemistié*, from Latin *inimicitia*, from *inimicus*, from *in*, not, and *amicus*, friend.
Are amateur and enemy related?
Yes, distantly. Both build on Latin *amare*, to love. An amateur acts from love; an enemy is defined by its absence.
Enmity or animosity?
Enmity is the settled state of being enemies. Animosity is strong ill feeling, which may be temporary.