Text:"Foe" by J.M. Coetzee

Task: Finding out about  the meaning of "Foe".    

OBJECTIVE

Linguistic: learning about meaning

Linguistic: improving writing skills.

Intertextual: finding links between dictionary use and understanding novels.

"FOE" 

Sources: Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman:     "Foe"= literally an enemy : Britain's friends and foes. 

Webliography: www.wordreference.com:

"Foe"= adversary, rival. 

 "Foe" etymology: Sources: Webliography: www.etymonline.com

 O.E. gefa "adversary in deadly feud," from fah "at feud, hostile," from P.Gmc. *fakhaz (cf. O.H.G. fehan "to hate," Goth. faih "deception"), probably from PIE base *peik- "evil-minded, treacherous, hostile" (cf. Skt. pisunah "malicious," picacah "demon;" Gk. pikros "bitter;" Lith. piktas "wicked, angry," pekti "to blame"). Weaker sense of "adversary" is first recorded 1607.