- Today's Word
Enmity
EN-muh-tee
Definition
- (noun) Deep-seated hostility, hatred, or ill will, especially between rivals or enemies.
Example
The long-standing enmity between the two feuding families had lasted for generations.
Fun Fact
“Enmity” comes from the Old French enmiteit, which evolved from the Latin inimicus, meaning “enemy.” Unlike fleeting anger, enmity suggests a lasting, often mutual animosity—think of classic literary rivalries like Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty or historical conflicts like the Hatfields and McCoys. Interestingly, enmity can also exist in milder forms, such as friendly sports rivalries, where competition breeds respect alongside opposition.
(verb) To solemnly renounce or reject a belief, cause, or claim; to formally swear off something
After years in the extremist group, he publicly abjured its ideology and dedicated himself to counter-radicalization work.
Abjure comes from the Latin abjurare — from ab (“away”) + jurare (“to swear”) — literally meaning “to swear away.” In medieval legal and religious contexts, abjuring was a formal, binding act: a person could abjure a heresy before a church tribunal or abjure the realm, swearing under oath never to return to a country.