match, resist, enemy

敵 is composed of 啇 (essence) and 攴 (tap). 啇 conveys the authority of a monarch's words, implying equal weight or stature to the monarch himself. 攴 is a pictograph of a hand holding a stick-like weapon, conveying the idea of resisting or striking back. Thus, 敵 came to mean equal in status, to oppose, or an equal match—extending to denote an enemy or opponent.