adversary

Definitions

1. 1.It may be thought that to vindicate the permanency of truth is to dispute without an adversary. Beattie. The Adversary, The Satan, or the Devil. 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.
2. 2.Opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic. [Archaic] Bp. King.
3. 3.(Law) Having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an adversary suit.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "adversary" mean?
• What is another word for "adversary"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is adversary.

• What is opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic. [Archaic] Bp. King called?
• What is having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an adversary suit called?