Friday, February 6, 2015

Inimical

Word of the Day
 
inimical \ in-NIM-ih-kul \ adjective
 
Definition
1: being adverse often by reason of hostility or malevolence
(
a climate inimical to health)
 
2a : having the disposition of an enemy : hostile
 
2b : reflecting or indicating hostility : unfriendly
(a cold, inimical gaze)
 
Examples
 
The mayor's proposal received an inimical response from members of the town council.

"Profiling and other means of applying stereotypes to certain types of persons on the basis of how they appear, as opposed to how they behave, is inimical to the very foundations of our democratic republic."
— Mark T. Harris, Sacramento (California) Bee, January 3, 2015
 
Origin

c.17:
from Late Latin
inimīcālis, from inimīcus, from in- (not)  + amīcus (friendly)
 
 

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