nemesis

Nemesis is a concept rooted in ancient Greek mythology, traditionally personified as the goddess of retribution, balance, and righteous consequence. She is concerned with the proper order of fortune, disciplining those who suffer hubris or excessive success and ensuring that rewards are distributed justly. In Hesiod and other early sources, Nemesis is described as a daughter of Nyx (Night) and, in some traditions, of Oceanus; she operates to counteract arrogance and hubris by levelling fortunes among gods and humans alike.

The name Nemesis comes from Greek nemesis, meaning “that which is due” or “retribution” — the one who dispenses what is owed. The term entered English via Latin and Greek into later antiquity and has since broadened beyond a deity to refer to any source of downfall or a stern corrective force.

In modern usage, nemesis denotes a formidable and often inescapable rival or adversary. A “nemesis” may be a recurring foe in fiction, a persistent opponent in sports, or any figure whose actions seem to set in motion one’s downfall or punishment. The phrasing arch-nemesis is common to describe such a relationship.

Notes: plural nemeses. The concept has permeated literature, film, games, and psychology as a metaphor for a counterforce that challenges a person’s or a society’s overreach.