Hostile
/ˈhɑː.staɪl/noun
Unfriendly, antagonistic, or having an attitude of opposition.
Did you know?Hostile comes from the same ancient root as *host* and *hospitality*: the line between honored guest and dangerous enemy was once razor-thin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghos-ti-
“stranger; guest; someone bound by reciprocal obligations”
Latin
Latin
hostis
“stranger, outsider; later enemy”
Latin
Latin
hostilis
“of an enemy; hostile”
Old French
Old French
hostile
“hostile, unfriendly”
Late Middle English
English
hostile
“unfriendly; belonging to an enemy”
Modern English
English
hostile
“unfriendly, antagonistic, or opposed”