n.; pl.Hostilities [ L. hostilitas: cf. F. hostilité. ] 1. State of being hostile; public or private enemy; unfriendliness; animosity. [ 1913 Webster ]
Hostility being thus suspended with France. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. An act of an open enemy; a hostile deed; especially in the plural, acts of warfare; attacks of an enemy. See hostilities [ 1913 Webster ]
He who proceeds to wanton hostility, often provokes an enemy where he might have a friend. Crabb.
[剑拔弩张 / 劍拔弩張, jiàn bá nǔ zhāng, ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄚˊ ㄋㄨˇ ㄓㄤ]lit. with swords drawn and bows bent (成语 saw); fig. a state of mutual hostility; at daggers drawn#41450[Add to Longdo]