ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Adversary', Synonyms of 'Adversary' & More on 'Adversary'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

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

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Adversary \Ad"ver*sa*ry\, a.
   1. Opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic. [Archaic] --Bp.
      King.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Law) Having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an
      adversary suit.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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 or resist them; a member of an opposing or hostile
   party; an opponent; an antagonist; an enemy; a foe.
   [1913 Webster]

         His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         Agree with thine adversary quickly.      --Matt. v. 25.
   [1913 Webster]

         It may be thought that to vindicate the permanency of
         truth is to dispute without an adversary. --Beattie.
   [1913 Webster]

   The Adversary, The Satan, or the Devil.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Adversary, Enemy, Opponent, Antagonist.

   Usage: Enemy is the only one of these words which necessarily
          implies a state of personal hostility. Men may be
          adversaries, antagonists, or opponents to each other
          in certain respects, and yet have no feelings of
          general animosity. An adversary may be simply one who
          is placed for a time in a hostile position, as in a
          lawsuit, an argument, in chess playing, or at fence.
          An opponent is one who is ranged against another
          (perhaps passively) on the opposing side; as a
          political opponent, an opponent in debate. An
          antagonist is one who struggles against another with
          active effort, either in a literal fight or in verbal
          debate.
          [1913 Webster]

4. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Adversary
   (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).

Thesaurus Results for Adversary:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

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

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