nemesis


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nem·e·sis

 (nĕm′ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. nem·e·ses (-sēz′)
1. A source of harm or ruin: Uncritical trust is my nemesis.
2. Retributive justice in its execution or outcome: To follow the proposed course of action is to invite nemesis.
3. An opponent that cannot be beaten or overcome.
4. One that inflicts retribution or vengeance.
5. Nemesis Greek Mythology The goddess of retributive justice or vengeance.

[Greek, retribution, the goddess Nemesis, from nemein, to allot; see nem- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Nemesis

(ˈnɛmɪsɪs)
n, pl -ses (-ˌsiːz)
1. (Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth the goddess of retribution and vengeance
2. (sometimes not capital) any agency of retribution and vengeance
[C16: via Latin from Greek: righteous wrath, from némein to distribute what is due]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

nem•e•sis

(ˈnɛm ə sɪs)

n., pl. -ses (-ˌsiz)
1. a source or cause of harm or failure.
2. an unconquerable opponent or rival.
3. (cap.) the ancient Greek goddess of divine retribution.
4. an agent or act of retribution.
[1575–85; < Latin < Greek]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.nemesis - (Greek mythology) the goddess of divine retribution and vengeanceNemesis - (Greek mythology) the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance
Greek mythology - the mythology of the ancient Greeks
2.nemesis - something causing misery or deathnemesis - something causing misery or death; "the bane of my life"
affliction - a cause of great suffering and distress
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

nemesis

noun retribution, fate, destruction, destiny, vengeance So far they had escaped their nemesis, but that afternoon it was to fall heavily on them.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

nemesis

noun
One who is hostile to or opposes the purposes or interests of another:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
arkkivihollinenkohtaloperivihollinen
nêmese

nemesis

[ˈnemɪsɪs] N (nemeses (pl)) → (justo) castigo m
AIDS is our collective nemesisSIDA representa nuestro castigo colectivo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

nemesis

[ˈnɛməsɪs] nnémésis f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

nemesis

nNemesis f (liter), → die gerechte Strafe
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Nemesis

[ˈnɛmɪsɪs] n (Myth) → Nemesi f (fig) nemesisnemesi f
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
("Works and Days", 182 ff.) with its catalogue of wrongdoings and violence ever increasing until Aidos and Nemesis are forced to leave mankind who thenceforward shall have `no remedy against evil'.
But there is the terrible Nemesis following on some errors, that it is always possible for those who like it to interpret them into a crime: there is no proof in favor of the man outside his own consciousness and assertion."
There was no sound, barely a struggle of the convulsively stiffening old muscles, and then, with a push from De Vac, the body lunged forward into the Thames, where a dull splash marked the end of the last hope that Prince Richard might be rescued from the clutches of his Nemesis.
For which reason the antients used, on such occasions, to sacrifice to the goddess Nemesis, a deity who was thought by them to look with an invidious eye on human felicity, and to have a peculiar delight in overturning it.
The Nemesis of the delicate ones was creeping on apace.
Rokoff sat frozen with fear, unable to move a hand or foot, his eyes riveted upon the face of his Nemesis.
On a French liner it were an easy matter, Olga, permanently to settle this Nemesis of ours."
And we see in it, I think, an admirable instance of the unexpected forms in which the great Nemesis hides herself.
"No, certainly; I pity him in proportion to his struggles, for they foreshadow the inward suffering which is the worst form of Nemesis. Consequences are unpitying.
And I pray Nemesis not to visit upon me the words which I am going to utter.
There is a Nemesis which overtakes generosity too, like all the other imprudences of men who dare to be lawless and proud .
But, if they had known that respectable Nemesis better, they would not have wondered about it, and might have stated the amount with the utmost precision.