adversary
基本释义
[noun] one’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute
[名词] 在竞赛、冲突或争论中的对手
深入解读
Adversary 是一个与小站两个多月前推送的 adversity 比较形近的单词,两者同源,都是源自拉丁语 adversus (反对、敌对),但不要误以为前者是后者的衍生形容词。
其中, adversary 一词于14世纪中期先后经古法语 adversarie (敌人、敌意的对手)和英国法语 adverser 进入英语后即用作名词表示“敌手、对手”,多指在竞赛、争论、冲突、战斗等中的敌手或对手,内涵范围包括从单纯的反对到积极的敌对,比如:
- 她赤裸裸地表示想得到他的工作,以至于他们之间说话都带着火药味。因此,在他眼中,她是他在公司中的头号对手。
She coveted his job so blatantly that conversations between them were tense. Hence, he saw her as his main adversary within the company.
此外, adversary 也可以用作形容词表示“对立的、敌对的”,同 adversarial ,尤指在政治或法律制度上对立的或敌对的,比如:
- 他的敌对态度使我们的生命处于危险之中。
His adversary stance put our lives at hazard.
值得注意的是, the Adversary 这个专用表达是撒旦(Satan)的原名,即指“撒旦、魔鬼、人之大敌”。
好书例句
“Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you’re about to perform,” said Hermione, “which gives you a split-second advantage.”
“对手不知道你打算施什么魔法,”赫敏说,“这就使你占有一刹那间的优势。”
出自英国作家J.K.罗琳创作的长篇小说《哈利·波特与混血王子》(Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)。该小说是《哈利·波特》系列的第六部。
外刊例句
- But consistent behaviour can have as deterrent an effect as erratic unpredictability: if your adversaries believe that you will keep your word, then your word can shape their actions.
然而始终一致的行为和古怪的不可预测性具有同样的威慑力:如果你的对手相信你会说到做到,那么你的话语会塑造他们的行为。
——《经济学人》 - The dialogue with allies less than two months into the new administration also underlines the president’s goal of shoring up international partnerships to face down adversaries and, in turn, further American interests.
新政府上任不到两个月就与盟友展开对话,也凸显了总统的目标:加强国际伙伴关系以挫败对手,进而促进美国的利益。
——《纽约时报》
详细用法
adversary(名词)是一个英语单词,表示对手、敌人或对抗者。它通常用于描述在竞争、斗争或冲突中与自己相对立的人或组织。下面是关于adversary的详细用法和一些相关的短语:
- 指人的对手:
- Formidable adversary:强大的对手
- Political adversary:政治对手
- Business adversary:商业对手
- Arch-rival and adversary:死敌和对手
- Worthy adversary:值得尊敬的对手
- Nemesis and adversary:宿敌和对手
- Fierce adversary:凶猛的对手
- Personal adversary:个人对手
- Cunning adversary:狡猾的对手
- Relentless adversary:不懈的对手
- 指组织或团体的对手:
- Political adversary:政治对手
- Military adversary:军事对手
- Legal adversary:法律对手
- Economic adversary:经济对手
- Rival and adversary:竞争对手和对手
- Corporate adversary:公司对手
- Foreign adversary:外国对手
- Adversary nation:敌对国家
- Formidable adversary:强大的对手
- Strategic adversary:战略对手
- 与对手进行对抗:
- Defeat an adversary:击败对手
- Challenge an adversary:挑战对手
- Confront an adversary:面对对手
- Engage with an adversary:与对手交锋
- Outwit an adversary:智胜对手
- Overcome an adversary:克服对手
- Outmaneuver an adversary:智取对手
- Neutralize an adversary:消除对手的威胁
- Thwart an adversary:挫败对手
- Outperform an adversary:胜过对手
- 描述对手关系:
- Bitter adversaries:激烈的对手
- Mortal adversaries:致命的对手
- Unrelenting adversaries:不可抗拒的对手
- Long-standing adversaries:长期对手
- Archetypal adversaries:典型的对手
- Fierce adversaries:凶猛的对手
- Bitter political adversaries:激烈的政治对手
- Nemeses and adversaries:宿敌和对手
- Natural adversaries:天然的对手
- Sworn adversaries:宣誓对手
同近义词
nemesis: a long-standing rival; an archenemy
rival: a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity
antagonist: a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary