foe

¹

[ foh ]

noun

1. a person who feels enmity, hatred, or malice toward another; enemy:

   a bitter foe.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

   Antonyms: friend

2. a military enemy; hostile army.

   Antonyms: friend

3. a person belonging to a hostile army or nation.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

   Antonyms: friend

4. an opponent in a game or contest; adversary:

   a political foe.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

5. a person who is opposed in feeling, principle, etc., to something:

   a foe to progress in civil rights.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

6. a thing that is harmful to or destructive of something:

   Sloth is the foe of health.

F.O.E.

²

abbreviation for

1. Fraternal Order of Eagles.

FoE

¹

abbreviation for

1. Friends of the Earth

foe

²

/ fəʊ /

noun

1. formal.
   another word for enemy

Word History and Origins

Origin of foe¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English foo, Old English fāh “hostile,” gefāh “enemy”; cognate with Old High German gifēh “at war”; feud ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of foe¹

Old English fāh hostile; related to Old High German fēhan to hate, Old Norse feikn dreadful; see feud ¹

Synonym Study

See enemy.

Related Words

• adversary
• antagonist
• enemy
• rival