nemesis English · revision 184
5 Oct 2026, 22:13 by bogdan “Add pronunciation, sense history, timeline, meanings, word family, related words” current version
Changes in this edit
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈnɛməsɪs/^(Wiktionary)
+
==Etymology==
− First recorded in the 1570s as the name of the Greek goddess of retribution,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) or 1561 according to Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate) It is [[bor|grc|νέμεσις|tr=némesis|t=righteous indignation; retribution]],^(OED 1989)^(AHD) literally “distribution” (of what is due),^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''némein'' “to distribute, give what is due”,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) [[der|ine-pro|*nem-|t=to assign, allot]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD)
+ It is [[bor|grc|νέμεσις|tr=némesis|t=righteous indignation; retribution]],^(OED 1989)^(AHD) literally “distribution” (of what is due),^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''némein'' “to distribute, give what is due”,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) [[der|ine-pro|*nem-|t=to assign, allot]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD) The notion is the divine allotment to everyone of their share of fortune, good or bad.^(Etymonline)
− With a lower-case ''n'', in the sense “retributive justice”, it is attested from the 1590s;^(Etymonline) the general sense “anything by which one seems bound to be defeated” dates from about 1930.^(Etymonline)
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The Greek goddess of retribution or vengeance, personifying divine wrath (1570s, or 1561 according to Merriam-Webster).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The OED describes her as the goddess who brings down immoderate good fortune and punishes extraordinary crimes.^(OED 1989) With a lower-case ''n'', in the sense “retributive justice”, the word is attested from the 1590s;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the general sense “anything by which one seems bound to be defeated” dates from about 1930,^(Etymonline) and “a long-standing, usually unbeatable rival” from 1933, originally in North America.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1561 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)
+ * 1576 – the goddess; one who avenges or punishes.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1597 – “retributive justice”.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+ * c. 1930 – “anything by which one seems bound to be defeated”.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1933 – “a persistent tormentor; an unconquerable rival”.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1984 – ''Nemesis'', a hypothetical companion star of the Sun.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A long-standing rival or opponent, especially one who cannot be beaten.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A source of harm or ruin; something one cannot overcome.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ # Retributive justice, or an agent of it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(capitalized)'' The Greek goddess of retribution.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
==References==