arch-rival, n.
Brit. /ɑːtʃˈrʌɪvl/, U.S. /ɑrtʃˈraɪv(ə)l/
[‹ arch- prefix + rival n.2]
A principal rival; esp. the most persistent and challenging of competitors.
| 1750 Adventures of Mr. Loveill (ed. 2) II. xxi. 262 The arch-rival Shameless, at the period when Loveill became acquainted with the lady, had, like Aaron's serpent, as it were, swallowed up all the rest [of the suitors]. 1835 R. R. Madden Twelvemonth's Resid. in West Indies I. iii. 17 And who, pray, so ignorant of Caribbean hostelry as not to have heard of her great arch-rival Miss Hannah Lewis? 1872 Littell's Living Age 20 Jan. 148/1 The school..contained only six hundred and fifty fellows, and Harrow, its arch rival, something like half that number. 1971 J. Bhatia Latchkey Kid i. 13 Mrs. Stych and her arch-rival Mrs. Frizzell had both called to express their condolences to Tollemarche's most interesting widow. 2001 Chicago Tribune 22 Oct. iv. 3/1 Even arch-rivals such as IBM and Microsoft are working together to develop Web services. |