hostile

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhɒstaɪl/, /ˈhɒstəl/ (UK); /ˈhɑstəl/, /ˈhɑstaɪl/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French hostile (“of or belonging to an enemy”) or directly from Latin hostīlis,^[2][3][4] from hostis, earlier a stranger, foreigner, in classical use an enemy,^[3][5] from PIE Proto-Indo-European *ghos-ti- (“stranger, guest, host”) (see guest, host).^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or belonging to an enemy; engaged in hostilities: 1594, in Shakespeare's Richard III,^[2][6] though Merriam-Webster dates it to 1580 and Etymonline to the late 15th century.^[5][3]

Semantic evolution

Of the nature or disposition of an enemy, unfriendly, is from 1782,^[6] and unfriendly in feeling or character, adverse, from 1791;^[6] Hoad dates the sense unfriendly, inimical to the 18th century.^[4] The noun, a hostile person, is from 1838, in American English, a word of the Indian wars.^[3][6] In Australian and New Zealand colloquial use to go hostile is to become angry (1941).^[6] Hostility is older, from before 1425.^[2]

Timeline

• before 1425 – hostility.^[2]
• 1594 – of an enemy.^[6]
• 1782 – unfriendly.^[6]
• 1838 – a hostile person (noun).^[3]
• 1941 – go hostile (Australian).^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Of, relating to or typical of an enemy.
2. Showing ill will or opposition; antagonistic.
3. Unfavourable to health or well-being; adverse or inhospitable.

Noun

1. An enemy, or an antagonistic person or thing.

Word family

• hostilely
• nonhostile
• semihostile
• unhostile

Related words

• hostility
• host
• guest
• hospital

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press