enmity

[ en-mi-tee ]

noun

, plural en·mi·ties.

1. a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism.

   Synonyms: rancor, acrimony, malice

2. (in a video game) the targeting for attack of a player character by an enemy, and the circumstance-specific strength of that targeting for any particular character; hate; aggro: Use the character’s ranged attack to get enmity.

   Your tank needs to be spamming “Provoke” at that mob to increase his enmity, or else it’s going to turn and target your mages.

   Use the character’s ranged attack to get enmity.

enmity

/ ˈɛnmɪtɪ /

noun

1. a feeling of hostility or ill will, as between enemies; antagonism

Word History and Origins

Origin of enmity¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enemite, enmite, from Old French enemi(s)tie, from unattested Vulgar Latin inimīcitāt- (stem of inimīcitās ), equivalent to Latin inimīc(us) “(personal ) enemy” + -itāt- abstract noun suffix; enemy, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of enmity¹

C13: from Old French enemistié, from enemi enemy

Example Sentences

A frontier attitude brims among older folks, some of whose grandchildren are homeschooled and whose enmity toward the government runs deep.

From Los Angeles Times

“To my Republican colleagues who introduced this resolution, I thank you. You honor me with your enmity. You flatter me with this falsehood,” the Burbank Democrat said.

From Los Angeles Times

“Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate,” King wrote, echoing the language Lattuada used to describe enmity’s ripple effects under Mussolini.

From Los Angeles Times

His activism earned him the lasting enmity of those who supported the misbegotten war.

From Los Angeles Times

After decades of experience, allowing policy to be shaped by today’s enmity toward Big Tech would be a dangerous swerve and could have unintended consequences for startups and consumers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acrimony
• alienation
• animosity
• animus
• antagonism
• antipathy
• bad blood
• bitterness
• dislike
• hatred
• hostility
• ill will
• loathing
• malice
• rancor