† ˈwithersake Obs.
[OE. wiþersaca = OFris. withirseka, OS. wiðarsako, OHG. widarsahho (MHG. widersache, MHG., G. widersacher): f. wiþer- wither-1 + -saca, agent-n. f. stem sak- of sake n.]
An adversary, enemy.
In OE., simply and in phr. Godes wiþersaca, often = apostate.
| c 960 æthelwold Rule St. Benet (Schroër 1885) lxii. 112 Ne beo he na sacerd ᵹeteald ac Godes wiðersaca. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 14 Iudas se wiþersaca. c 1205 Lay. 1808 Geomagog..þat was þe heihste Godes wiðer-saka. Ibid. 12620 Þat is goddes wiðer-sake. |