The state of being an enemy or the condition of enmity between two parties.
From Old English 'fa' (enemy) + '-ship' (state or condition). The suffix '-ship' comes from Germanic roots meaning 'shape' or 'condition,' used to create abstract nouns describing states of being.
This word reveals how English speakers centuries ago treated enmity as a formal relationship worthy of its own term—similar to how we say 'friendship' or 'relationship.' It shows that enemies weren't just random antagonists but had a recognized social status.
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