foefoe /fəʊ $ foʊ/ noun [countable] literary 
Word Origin
Britain’s friends and foes
Word OriginWORD ORIGINfoe
ExamplesOrigin:
Old English fahEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- As we approached the camp a guard called out: ""Who goes there -- friend or foe?''
- Mitterand drew France closer to the European union and to Germany, its former foe.
- But the political field is inscribed with the logic of friend and foe.
- His foes immediately expressed fear he will launch new attacks on them.
- Incorporation foes who argue Tucson will be ringed by suburbs ought to realize it already is.
- It may also give different impressions to friend and to foe.
- Oxygen became friend rather than foe and most organisms began to use it to fuel their lives.
- They can still run foes crazy with that setup, but now they can also go to Tall Ball.
- This third criterion is related to whether you feel this new person is friend or foe.
THESAURUSperson► enemy
Collocations someone who does not like you because you have had a big disagreement with them in the past or someone who opposes you in business or politics: · If that’s how he treats his friends, I’d hate to be his enemy.· In business, it’s best not to make too many enemies.
► adversary formal an enemy: · When he retired, he was replaced by his old adversary.· He made the fatal mistake of underestimating his adversary.
► foe literary an enemy: · A guard called out ‘Who goes there – friend or foe?’· his former foes
► arch enemy someone’s main enemy: · In the movie, Batman goes into battle with his arch enemy the Joker.
► opponent someone you are competing against, for example in a sports game, competition, or election: · You win the game if you are left with more cards than your opponent.· He is admired even by his political opponents.
► nemesis written an enemy or opponent that is impossible to defeat – a rather formal use: · In the final, he met his old nemesis, Rafael Nadal.
country/army► enemy a country or army that you are fighting against in a war: · Soldiers who were captured by the enemy suffered terribly.
► foe written an enemy: · The Russian Army were a formidable foe.
person► enemy someone who does not like you because you have had a big disagreement with them in the past or someone who opposes you in business or politics: · If that’s how he treats his friends, I’d hate to be his enemy.· In business, it’s best not to make too many enemies.
► adversary formal an enemy: · When he retired, he was replaced by his old adversary.· He made the fatal mistake of underestimating his adversary.
► foe literary an enemy: · A guard called out ‘Who goes there – friend or foe?’· his former foes
► arch enemy someone’s main enemy: · In the movie, Batman goes into battle with his arch enemy the Joker.
► opponent someone you are competing against, for example in a sports game, competition, or election: · You win the game if you are left with more cards than your opponent.· He is admired even by his political opponents.
► nemesis written an enemy or opponent that is impossible to defeat – a rather formal use: · In the final, he met his old nemesis, Rafael Nadal.
country/army► enemy a country or army that you are fighting against in a war: · Soldiers who were captured by the enemy suffered terribly.
► foe written an enemy: · The Russian Army were a formidable foe.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone you are fighting against, especially in a war► enemy someone you are fighting against, especially in a war: · You cannot attack an enemy unless you have precise information about their numbers and position. the enemy (=the army or country that your army or country is fighting against in a war): · They accused him of giving secret information to the enemy.common enemy (=an enemy you share with another person, country etc): · Britain and France decided to unite and fight against their common enemy.enemy/aircraft/soldiers/tanks etc: · One man was ordered to observe enemy aircraft and to warn when danger was imminent.
► foe formal or written a person or country that wants to attack and defeat you or your country: · Mitterand drew France closer to the European union and to Germany, its former foe.friend or foe: · As we approached the camp a guard called out: "Who goes there -- friend or foe?''
► adversary formal or written a country or person that you are fighting against: · The peace talks proved that even great adversaries were capable of cooperation.· Symes grabbed his adversary by the throat and wrestled him to the ground.
► hostile hostile areas, soldiers etc are those belonging to a country or group that wants to attack and defeat your country, and are therefore dangerous: · Hostile forces have taken control of cities in the north of the country.· The ships had travelled thousands of miles through hostile waters to converge in the Atlantic.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► implacable
Phrases· C., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is an implacable foe of the treaty.
► old· It was Sutton's chance for revenge on his old foe Kelvin Mackenzie.· It replaced all those stale, old foes of the past.· Mr Lagos, his old foe, has called for the judicial system here to take Gen Pinochet to account.
► political· But President Clinton and his political foes are not far apart in their critical attitude toward the international body.
NOUN► abortion· But de-emphasizing the ban would enrage their natural allies among abortion foes.· Tony P.. Hall, D-Ohio, normally an abortion foe.· Henry Hyde, a longtime abortion foe, who urged her to stay in the Dole camp.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► mortal enemy/foe
an enemy: - I remembered doing this sort of stuff in sixth grade with my mortal enemy, Tommy Jancko.
- It was also the mortal enemy of horses and would rip them apart in seconds with its mighty talons.
- Well, it might be a big one with a misleading number-plate which simply doesn't stop that gets your mortal enemy.
Britain’s friends and foes