enmity
C1/C2Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A state of deep-seated ill will, hostility, or antagonism between people or groups.
A prolonged, often mutual, feeling of hatred or animosity that manifests in opposition or conflict, extending beyond a mere disagreement to a lasting state of being opposed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Enmity implies a lasting condition of hostility, often deep-rooted and longstanding, rather than a temporary dispute. It suggests mutual animosity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in formal British writing (e.g., political commentary, history).
Connotations
Equally formal in both dialects. Connotes a serious, often historical or ideological, conflict.
Frequency
Low-frequency, formal word in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in UK historical/political contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
enmity between X and Yenmity toward(s)/against/for Xenmity over ZVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To nurse an enmity (to keep a feeling of hostility alive)”
- “At enmity with (in a state of hostility towards)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts describing hostile corporate takeovers or deep rivalries: 'The enmity between the two tech giants shaped the market.'
Academic
Common in history, political science, and literature to describe longstanding conflicts: 'The research explores the sectarian enmities that led to the conflict.'
Everyday
Very rare. Replaced by 'hatred', 'bad blood', or 'hostility'.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields like STEM.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (No direct verb form. Use 'to be/become enemies' or 'to harbour enmity').
American English
- (No direct verb form. Use 'to be/become enemies' or 'to harbor enmity').
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- (Rarely derived) 'The two leaders exchanged enmitous glances across the chamber.' (Note: 'inimical' is the standard adjective)
American English
- (Rarely derived) 'The enmitous relationship between the departments hampered progress.' (Note: 'inimical' is the standard adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too advanced for A2. Provide simpler paraphrase) They were not friends; they were enemies.
- There has been enmity between the two families for many years.
- He felt no enmity towards his rival after the game.
- The political enmity between the two parties made cooperation impossible.
- Their personal enmity stemmed from a business deal gone wrong decades ago.
- The deep-seated enmity bred by the civil war took generations to overcome.
- Scholars trace the sectarian enmity in the region back to medieval theological disputes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENEMY + CITY. Picture two enemy cities divided by a long, deep hostility (enmity).
Conceptual Metaphor
ENMITY IS A DEEP WOUND / A LASTING STAIN. (e.g., 'The enmity left a permanent scar on their relations.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'враждой' в её самом остром, глубоком смысле. 'Enmity' – именно застарелая, глубокая вражда, а не временная ссора (quarrel, dispute).
- Не является прямым синонимом 'ненависти' (hatred), хотя часто сопутствует ей. 'Enmity' сильнее акцентирует состояние отношений, а не эмоцию.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for a short-term argument. *'We had an enmity yesterday over the TV remote.' (Incorrect) → 'We had a quarrel...'
- Using as a countable noun for a single act. *'He showed me an enmity.' (Incorrect) → 'He showed me hostility.'
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best illustrates 'enmity'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Hatred' is a strong emotion of intense dislike. 'Enmity' is the resulting state or relationship of hostility between parties, often mutual and long-lasting. You can feel hatred for someone without them knowing, but enmity implies a two-way hostile relationship.
No. Using 'enmity' for a mild or temporary disagreement is a significant error. It is a strong, formal word reserved for serious, deep-rooted hostility. Use 'disagreement', 'quarrel', or 'rift' instead.
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'full of enmity'). It can be used countably in the plural ('old enmities') or with qualifiers that make it specific ('a bitter enmity'), but not as a single countable unit for a single act (*'an enmity').
The most common prepositions are 'between' (enmity between X and Y) and 'toward(s)'/'against' (enmity toward(s) someone). 'Over' is used to indicate the cause (enmity over territory).