enmity
(ˈɛnmɪtɪ)
Forms: 4–6 enem-, enmyte(e, ennemite, -yte, 4 enmit(y)e, 5 enymyte, 6 enem-, enimitie, ennimitie, enim-, inimity, 6– enmity.
[ad. OF. enemistié, ennemistié (Fr. inimitié), = Pr. enemistat, Sp. enemistad:—late L. *inimīcitāt-em, f. inimīcus: see enemy.]
1. The disposition or the feelings characteristic of an enemy; ill-will, hatred.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4078 (Gött.) Ne wald þai neuer apon him se, Fra þat day bot wid enmite [Trin. enemyte]. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 301 For enemyte þat þei han to a man. 1483 Caxton Cato I viii b, For enymyte and hate are contrary to frendship and concorde. 1535 Coverdale Isa. xi. 13 The hatred of Ephraim, and y⊇ enmyte of Iuda shalbe clene rooted out. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (1885) 92 The..inimity borne toward thair parents to instil in the hartes of thair barnes. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 431 Can..works of love or enmity fulfill. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ., Riddle (1778) II. 115 A man who values a good night's rest will not lie down with enmity in his heart, if he can help it. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 353 He hated me, and his enmity was shared by several who were present. |
2. The condition of being an enemy; a state of mutual hostility; esp. in phrase at enmity or in enmity.
| ? a 1400 Chester Pl. (1843–7) 31 And enmitye betwene you towe..I shall make. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 379/3 By cause there shold noo debate ne enemyte falle betwene the brethren. 1579 North Plutarch 541 So civill and temperate were mens enmities at that time. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. ii. 68, I will dispaire, and be at enmitie With couzening hope. 1602 Segar Hon. Mil. & Civ. i. iii. 4 When the Romanes were divided, one faction labouring to oppresse another..such enimitie was called Sedition. 1611 Bible Jam. iv. 4 Know yee not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? 1667 Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 479 It will prevent much trouble by having of him out of their enmity. a 1704 Locke (J.), In an age at enmity with all restraint. 1837 H. Martineau Soc. Amer. III. 188 The growing enmity of opinion to the punishment of death. 1845 Stephen Laws Eng. II. 407 Provided their parents were not at the time in enmity with our sovereign. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 581 The adventures, the attachments, the enmities of the lords and ladies who, etc. |
b. transf.
| 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. ix. 300 That system of patronage..is at irreconcilable enmity with the very principle of good government. |
† c. to be of (a person's) enmity: to be at enmity with (him). Obs.
| 1641 W. Hakewill Lib. of Subject 123 All Merchants Denizens and Forreins (except those which be of our enmitie) may, etc. |
† 3. Something that is prejudicial; a baneful influence. Obs.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 99 It is grete enemyte [inimicissimum] to werriours forto norsche sleuþe and leccherie. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §4 A fortunat assendent clepen they whan..no wikkid planete haue non aspecte of enemyte up-on the assendent. c 1470 Harding Chron. liii. i, The water myght not the enemytee Kepe of [warre] from his trewe Britayn lande. 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. iv. 212, I abiure all roofes, and chuse To wage against the enmity oth' ayre. |