adversary
part of speech
noun (an adversary, adversaries)
meaning for a pupil
(formal) An enemy or opponent; someone you fight or compete against. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah, God promises to be an enemy to the enemies of Israel and to take vengeance on those who hate Him. In the Psalms, "adversaries" are the enemies of the poet or of God's people, and the poet prays to God against them. Interpretation: The tradition reads the Torah verses as a promise that God stands with Israel if they obey, and as a reminder that justice belongs to God. It reads the Psalms as prayers of a person in trouble who trusts God to answer his enemies, and many are traditionally ascribed to David. In the primary lessons: In stories and history: heroes face an adversary. In sport and games: a worthy adversary is a strong opponent. Phrases: a worthy adversary, old adversary, political adversaries.
examples
- If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to Mine adversaries, and will recompense them that hate Me. (Torah DEU.32.41, JPS 1917) tree →
- But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. (Torah EXO.23.22, JPS 1917) tree →
- Were it not that I dreaded the enemy's provocation, lest their adversaries should misdeem, lest they should say: Our hand is exalted, and not the LORD hath wrought all this.' (Torah DEU.32.27, JPS 1917) tree →
- LORD, how many are mine adversaries become! (Writings PSA.3.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? (Writings PSA.74.10, JPS 1917) tree →
- A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His adversaries round about. (Writings PSA.97.3, JPS 1917) tree →
- The knight faced his adversary on the bridge. tree →
- In chess, try to guess your adversary's next move. tree →
- The two teams were old adversaries. tree →
- She was a tough adversary in the debate. tree →
- Sherlock Holmes's greatest adversary was Moriarty. tree →
- Even adversaries can shake hands after the game. tree →
- Heracles destroyed this new adversary with his club, and now called upon his nephew to come to his aid. tree →
note
Formal; everyday words: enemy, opponent, rival. Plural: adversaries (y to ies). Adjective adversarial. Do not confuse with "anniversary".
In the corpora
- But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence.
- And the LORD raised up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the king's seed in Edom.
- Therefore the LORD doth set upon high the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies;
- Thy holy people they have well nigh driven out, our adversaries have trodden down Thy sanctuary.
- Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: An adversary, even round about the land!
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «adversary» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.