Where does “archenemy” come from?
archenemy (English) comes from English enemy, from Middle English enemy, from Old French enemi, from Old French inimi, from Latin inimīcus, from Latin amīcus, from Latin amō, from Latin Deus — to be bright; sky, heaven.
archenemy (English): A principal enemy; A supreme and most powerful...
Definitions
- A principal enemy; A supreme and most powerful...
Ancestry of “archenemy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | enemy | Someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards,... |
| 2 | Middle English | enemy | An enemy, foe, or adversary |
| 3 | Old French | enemi | enemy |
| 4 | Old French | inimi | Alternative form of enemi |
| 5 | Latin | inimīcus | enemy, foe someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else |
| 6 | Latin | amīcus | friendly, well-disposed, amicable |
| 7 | Latin | amō | to love |
| 8 | Latin | Deus | God |
| 9 | Latin | dẹ̄vos | — |
| 10 | Old Latin | deivos | god, deity |
| 11 | Proto-Italic | deiwos | god, deity |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | deywós | god |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | dyew- | to be bright; sky, heaven |