Word of the Day - 06/26/26
inimical
/ɪ'nɪmɪkəl/(adj.): adverse in a hostile manner
The politician's inimical stance toward her opponents was evident in every debate.
Word Origin
The word 'inimical' originates from the Latin 'inimicalis', meaning 'hostile, unfriendly'. This word is derived from 'inimicus', which means 'unfriendly' or 'enemy'. 'Inimicus' is formed by combining the Latin prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not' or 'opposite of') with 'amicus' (meaning 'friend'). 'Amicus' itself comes from the Latin verb 'amare', meaning 'to love'.
Words with similar origins include 'enemy', which comes directly from the Latin 'inimicus' via Old French. Also, words like 'amicable' and 'amity' share the root 'amicus' (friend) and 'amare' (to love), though they have the opposite meaning, reflecting the 'amicus' part without the 'in-' prefix.