American Dictionary of the English Language

Dictionary Search

Hostile


HOS'TILE, adjective [Latin hostilis, from hostis, an enemy, that is, a foreigner.]

1. Belonging to a public enemy; designating enmity, particularly public enmity, or a state of war; inimical; as a hostile band or army; a hostile force; hostile intentions.

2. Possessed by a public enemy; as a hostile country.

3. Adverse; opposite; unfriendly. [But the word is not properly applied to private enmity, or mere unfriendliness.]