archenemy

[ ahrch-en-uh-mee ]

noun

, plural arch·en·e·mies.

1. a chief enemy.
2. Satan; the Devil.

archenemy

/ ˈɑːtʃˈɛnɪmɪ /

noun

1. a chief enemy
2. the archenemy
   the archenemy often capital the devil

Word History and Origins

Origin of archenemy¹

First recorded in 1540–50; arch- ¹ + enemy

Example Sentences

In the south, the Gulf States view their Persian nuclear neighbor as a permanent archenemy.

From The Daily Beast

He now reveals that Rich kept Israel alive through boycotts by supplying the country with oil, much of it from its archenemy Iran.

From The Daily Beast

But he was not prepared for the skilful trap which his archenemy was baiting for him, and into which he was to promptly fall.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus does that archenemy favour his friends for a time, and thus does he at last reward them.

From Project Gutenberg

Leithgow vouchsafed his archenemy no more than a look, but turned to the Hawk.

From Project Gutenberg

The archenemy and his angels are thus left upon an earth devoid of human beings.

From Project Gutenberg

He was not the archenemy of the movement (as some of the boys themselves thought): he simply had no use for it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antagonist