Conflictor

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person or party that contends with, opposes, or clashes against another in a dispute or struggle
2. Someone who takes part in a quarrel, rivalry, or fight with an opposing side
3. An opponent or adversary who stands in direct opposition to another party during a contest or disagreement

Etymology: "Conflictor" is a plain formation: the verb "conflict," meaning to struggle or clash, plus the agent ending "-or," which marks one who performs the action. The verb comes from Latin "conflictus," the past participle of "confligere," meaning "to strike together," built from "com-" (together) and "fligere" (to strike). The underlying sense is therefore one who strikes against another. The ending "-or" is the same Latin suffix found in many English agent nouns, such as "actor" and "editor." Here it turns a clash into a party to the clash, someone or something that engages in conflict.