Etymologically
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hostile

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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

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