Syn. — Adversary, Enemy, Opponent, Antagonist. 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.
ADVERSARY
Ad"ver*sa*ry, a.
1. Opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic. [Archaic] Bp. King.
2. (Law)
Defn: Having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an adversary suit.
ADVERSATIVE
Ad*ver"sa*tive, a. Etym: [L. adversativus, fr. adversari.]
Defn: Expressing contrariety, opposition, or antithesis; as, an
adversative conjunction (but, however, yet, etc. ); an adversative
force.
— Ad*ver"sa*tive*ly, adv.
ADVERSATIVE
Ad*ver"sa*tive, n.
Defn: An adversative word. Harris.
ADVERSE Ad"verse, a. Etym: [OE. advers, OF. avers, advers, fr. L. adversus, p. p. advertere to turn to. See Advert.]