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a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent; enemy; foe.
a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest; contestant.
the Adversary, the devil; Satan.
of or relating to an adversary.
involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding:
an adversary trial.
Contemporary Examples

When that attachment is opened, the trojan is unleashed, giving the adversary control of the unlucky computer, Raff said.
15-Year-Old Egyptian Cyber Activist Takes on Israel Eli Lake November 20, 2012

The nickname, which Helen attached to her adversary, would haunt Nixon for decades to come.
‘Tricky Dick’ vs. the Pink Lady Sally Denton November 15, 2009

Can it be that Republicans have finally learned not to interrupt your adversary when he is destroying himself?
Should Weiner Resign? Daily Beast Contributors Weigh In The Daily Beast June 6, 2011

Then Gingrich began to rise in the polls, the first adversary to seriously worry the Romney campaign.
David Frum: Mitt Romney Has Signed Paul Ryan’s Suicide Note David Frum January 19, 2012

He wanted to allay suspicion that the Watergate probe was being driven by such an obvious Nixon adversary—when in fact, it was.
How Kennedy Brought Down Nixon Chris Matthews September 12, 2009

Historical Examples

Presently the one on top hit his adversary a terrific blow on the head.
The Motor Maids by Palm and Pine Katherine Stokes

They administer stinging rebukes that leave the adversary writhing.
The Spenders Harry Leon Wilson

The prisoner darted upon him one of those searching glances that seem to pierce an adversary through.
Monsieur Lecoq, v.1 Emile Gaboriau

He tried to imagine the combat, his own attitude, and the position of his adversary.
A Comedy of Marriage and Other Tales Guy De Maupassant

In his blind passion the old wrathful monarch injured his cause and strengthened the cause of his adversary.
Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada Washington Irving

noun (pl) -saries
a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy
an opposing contestant in a game or sport
adjective
the US term for adversarial (sense 2)
n.

mid-14c., aduersere, from Anglo-French adverser (13c.), Old French adversaire “adversary, opponent, enemy,” or directly from Latin adversarius “opponent, adversary, rival,” noun use of adjective meaning “opposite, hostile, contrary,” literally “turned toward one,” from adversus “turned against” (see adverse). The Latin word is glossed in Old English by wiðerbroca.

(Heb. satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25; Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant (Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58); an enemy (Luke 18:3), and specially the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).