The Enemy in the Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

Abstract

    The goal of this study is to dissect, using illustrative sentences, the fragment of the concept of ENEMY (Lith. PRIEŠAS) recorded in the Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language (LKŽe).
First and foremost, enemy in the LKŽe is defined as an unfriendly, assailing army of another (often unidentified in the illustrative sentences of the LKŽe) country; its actions with regard to the country that is being (or has been) assaulted are stereotypical. The actions of the country defending itself against the enemy in war are also rather predictable and stereotypical. On rare occasions, the illustrative sentences of the LKŽe refer to Lithuania (or Lithuanians) as a country defending itself against an enemy. The illustrative sentences presented in the LKŽe contain very few mentions of the specific enemy of Lithuania (or Lithuanians) as well.
In the illustrative sentences of the LKŽe, enemy can also be an unfriendly person or animal; that what causes damage or harm to a human being or an abstract phenomenon; a specific object. Enemy can also be a person or persons of opposing beliefs. Furthermore, enemy is he who condemns something, considers it harmful or evil.