Obs. [OE. wiþersaca = OFris. withirseka, OS. wiðarsako, OHG. widarsahho (MHG. widersache, MHG., G. widersacher): f. wiþer- WITHER-1 + -saca, agent-n. f. stem sak- of SAKE sb.] An adversary, enemy.

1

In OE., simply and in phr. Godes wiþersaca, often = apostate.

2

c. 960.  Æthelwold, Rule St. Benet (Schroēr, 1885), lxii. 112. Ne beo he na sacerd ʓeteald ac Godes wiðersaca.

3

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 14. Iudas se wiþersaca.

4

c. 1205.  Lay., 1808. Geomagog … þat was þe heihste Godes wiðer-saka. Ibid., 12620. Þat is goddes wiðer-sake.

5