Archenemy
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.[1][2][3]
Etymology
[edit]The word archenemy originated around the mid-16th century, from the words arch-[3] (from Greek ἄρχω archo meaning 'to lead') and enemy.[1]
An archenemy may also be referred to as an archrival,[4] archfoe,[5] archvillain,[6] or archnemesis,[7] 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.[8]
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.[9]
Notable examples
[edit]DC Comics
[edit]| Hero/Team | Archenemy | References |
|---|---|---|
| Batman | The Joker | [10][11][12] |
| Superman | Lex Luthor | [10][11][12] |
| Wonder Woman | Cheetah | [10][11][12] |
| Flash | Reverse-Flash | [10][12] |
| Green Lantern | Sinestro | [10][12] |
| Aquaman | Black Manta | [12] |
| Teen Titans | Deathstroke | [10][12] |
Marvel Comics
[edit]| Hero/Team | Archenemy | References |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four | Doctor Doom | [10][12] |
| X-Men | Magneto | [10][12] |
| Captain America | Red Skull | [10][12] |
| Wolverine | Sabretooth | [10][12] |
| Avengers | Ultron | [10] |
| Thor | Loki | [12] |
| Spider-Man | Green Goblin | [12] |
| Daredevil | Kingpin | [12] |
| Iron Man | Mandarin | [12] |
| Punisher | Jigsaw | [12] |
| Blade | Deacon Frost | [12] |
Other
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "archenemy definition". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ "archenemy – Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ a b Wicaksono, Rachel. "BBC World Service | Learning English | Ask about English". BBC. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ "Definition of ARCHRIVAL". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Definition of ARCHFOE". merriam-webster.com.
- ^ "Definition of ARCHVILLAIN". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Definition of ARCHNEMESIS". merriam-webster.com.
- ^ Sage Michael, How to Become a Superhero: the Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate You! (2011), p. 228.
- ^ Collins English Dictionary. Harper Collins. 1991. p. 1046. ISBN 0-00-433286-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harth, David (14 October 2020). "10 Best Arch-Enemies In Comics, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Church, Ricky (6 October 2020). "The Greatest Arch-Enemies of All Time". Flickering Myth. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Geis, Tyler (22 May 2024). "20 Best Superhero Arch Enemies of All Time". MovieWeb. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
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