adversary

[ad-ver-ser-ee] /ˈæd vərˌsɛr i/
noun, plural adversaries.
1.
a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent; enemy; foe.
2.
a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest; contestant.
3.
the Adversary, the devil; Satan.
adjective, Also, especially British, adversarial
[ad-ver-sair-ee-uh l] /ˌæd vərˈsɛər i əl/ (Show IPA)
4.
of or pertaining to an adversary.
5.
involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding:
an adversary trial.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English adversarie < Latin adversārius, equivalent to advers(us) (see adverse) + -ārius -ary; replacing Middle English adversere < Anglo-French
Related forms
adversariness, noun
nonadversarial, adjective
Synonyms
1. Adversary, antagonist mean a person or a group contending against another. Adversary suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly: a formidable adversary. Antagonist suggests one who, in hostile spirit, opposes another, often in a particular contest or struggle: a duel with an antagonist.
Antonyms
1. ally.
Examples from the web for adversary
  • Knowing this, an adversary who knows he must suffer actual human casualties must win quickly against an automated opponent.
  • Of course, if your client's adversary is represented by counsel, I need not tell you what the rule is then.
  • Bad Bart, filled with admiration for his former adversary, presents her with a tiara.
  • The other is the adversary system that accentuates the points of difference and promotes conflict between the parties.
  • All present considered that the chief obstacle to the success of this undertaking lay in "the adversary system".
  • Don't assume your "adversary" is either a good or bad negotiator; instead try and learn the facts first.
  • He is my most cunning adversary.
  • The Web is so vast, without having some idea where to look, an adversary's message would be almost impossible to find.
  • But he led from conviction, but never made an adversary into an enemy.
  • Nick was forced to take on a real adversary in November 2005 when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
British Dictionary definitions for adversary

adversary

/ˈædvəsərɪ/
noun (pl) -saries
1.
a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy
2.
an opposing contestant in a game or sport
adjective
3.
the US term for adversarial (sense 2)
Word Origin
C14: from Latin adversārius, from adversus against. See adverse
Word Origin and History for adversary
n.

mid-14c., aduersere, from Anglo-French adverser (13c.), Old French adversaire "adversary, opponent, enemy," or directly from Latin adversarius "opponent, adversary, rival," noun use of adjective meaning "opposite, hostile, contrary," literally "turned toward one," from adversus "turned against" (see adverse). The Latin word is glossed in Old English by wiðerbroca.

adversary in the Bible

(Heb. satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25; Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant (Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58); an enemy (Luke 18:3), and specially the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).