hostile

hostile
hostilely, adv.
/hos"tl/ or, esp. Brit., /-tuyl/, adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an enemy: a hostile nation.
2. opposed in feeling, action, or character; antagonistic: hostile criticism.
3. characterized by antagonism.
4. not friendly, warm, or generous; not hospitable.
n.
5. a person or thing that is antagonistic or unfriendly.
6. Mil. an enemy soldier, plane, ship, etc.
[1585-95; < L hostilis, equiv. to hostis enemy (see HOST2) + -ilis -ILE]
Syn. 1. warlike, aggressive. 2. adverse, averse, contrary. HOSTILE, INIMICAL indicate that which characterizes an enemy or something injurious to one's interests. HOSTILE applies to the spirit, attitude, or action of an enemy: They showed a hostile and menacing attitude. INIMICAL applies to an antagonistic or injurious tendency or influence: Their remarks were inimical to his reputation.
Ant. 1, 2. friendly. 3. sympathetic.

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  • hostile — Hostile …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • hostile — [ ɔstil ] adj. • 1450, rare XVIIe XVIIIe; lat. hostilis, de hostis « ennemi » 1 ♦ Qui manifeste de l agressivité, se conduit en ennemi. Pays, puissance hostile. Groupes hostiles qui se font la guerre. ⇒ adverse, ennemi. Foule hostile et menaçante …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • hostile — hos·tile adj 1: having an intimidating, antagonistic, or offensive nature a hostile work environment 2 a: of or relating to an opposing party in a legal action a hostile claim b: adverse to the interests of a party to a legal action if the… …   Law dictionary

  • hostile — hos‧tile [ˈhɒstaɪl ǁ ˈhɑːstl, ˈhɑːstaɪl] adjective FINANCE a hostile bid or takeover is one in which a company tries to buy another company whose shareholder S do not want to sell: • They ve managed to fight off a hostile takeover bid. * * * …   Financial and business terms

  • Hostile — Hos tile, a. [L. hostilis, from hostis enemy: cf. F. hostile. See {Host} an army.] Belonging or appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure; occupied by an enemy …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hostile — (adj.) late 15c., from M.Fr. hostile of or belonging to an enemy or directly from L. hostilis of an enemy, from hostis enemy (see GUEST (Cf. guest)). The noun meaning hostile person is recorded from 1838, Amer.Eng., a word from the Indian Wars …   Etymology dictionary

  • hostile — [häs′təl; ] chiefly Brit [, häs′tīl΄] adj. [L hostilis < hostis, enemy: see HOSPICE] 1. of or characteristic of an enemy; warlike 2. having or showing ill will; unfriendly; antagonistic 3. not hospitable or compatible; adverse 4. Finance of or …   English World dictionary

  • Hostile — Hos tile, n. An enemy; esp., an American Indian in arms against the whites; commonly in the plural. [Colloq.] P. H. Sheridan. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hostile — [adj] antagonistic, mean adverse, alien, allergic, anti*, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, bitter, catty*, chill*, cold*, competitive, contentious, contrary, disapproving, dour, hateful, ill disposed, inhospitable, inimical, malevolent,… …   New thesaurus

  • hostile — ► ADJECTIVE 1) antagonistic; opposed. 2) of or belonging to a military enemy. 3) (of a takeover bid) opposed by the company to be bought. DERIVATIVES hostilely adverb hostility noun (pl. hostilities) . ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • hostile — hos|tile [ hastl ] adjective ** ▸ 1 unfriendly/threatening ▸ 2 opposing something ▸ 3 of/done by enemy in war ▸ 4 difficult/dangerous ▸ 5 in business 1. ) behaving in a very unfriendly or threatening way toward someone: The mayor found himself in …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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