Archenemy#In television
{{Short description|Main enemy of someone}}
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File:Sidney Paget - Original illustration of The Death of Sherlock Holmes, 1893.png wrestling against his archenemy Prof. Moriarty.]]
In literature, an archenemy, (sometimes spelled as arch-enemy) or nemesis is the main enemy of the protagonist — or sometimes, one of the other main characters — appearing as the most prominent and most-known enemy of the hero.{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archenemy |title=archenemy definition |publisher=Dictionary.com |access-date=7 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005075529/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archenemy |archive-date=5 October 2008 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archenemy|title=archenemy – Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary|publisher=Merriam-Webster|access-date=26 June 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1837_aae/page23.shtml|title=BBC World Service {{!}} Learning English {{!}} Ask about English|last=Wicaksono|first=Rachel|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 June 2008}}
Etymology
The word archenemy originated around the mid-16th century, from the words arch- (from Greek ἄρχω archo meaning 'to lead') and enemy.
An archenemy may also be referred to as an archrival,{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archrival|title=Definition of ARCHRIVAL|website=merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}} archfoe,{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archfoe|title=Definition of ARCHFOE|website=merriam-webster.com}} archvillain,{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archvillain|title=Definition of ARCHVILLAIN|website=merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}} or archnemesis,{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archnemesis|title=Definition of ARCHNEMESIS|website=merriam-webster.com}} but an archenemy may also be distinguished from an archnemesis, with the latter being an enemy whom the hero cannot defeat (or who defeats the hero), even while not being a longstanding or consistent enemy to the hero.Sage Michael, How to Become a Superhero: the Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate You! (2011), p. 228.
The archenemy should not be confused with the proper meaning of Nemesis — the Greek goddess of justice, retribution, and vengeance — who delivered divine punishment on those who committed great offences against the gods and the world.{{cite book |title=Collins English Dictionary |publisher=Harper Collins |year=1991 |isbn=0-00-433286-5 |language=en |page=1046}}
See also
References
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Category:Superhero fiction themes
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