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# rival

noun (a rival, rivals); verb (rival, rivals, rivalled/rivaled, rivalling/rivaling); adjective (rival teams)

«rival» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A person, team or business that competes with another for the same thing: The two schools are old rivals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#m1)
2. (verb) To be as good as someone or something: Her cake rivals any shop's cake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#m2)
3. (adjective) Competing: rival gangs, rival shops. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#m3)

### In the lessons

In sport and stories rivals compete for a prize, a trophy or friendship. In business maths, rival shops offer different prices to compare. In science, animals are rivals for food and mates. Phrases: «arch-rival», «rival team», «without rival», «rival someone in something».

### Examples

- The two football teams are fierce rivals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x1)
- Our rival shop sells apples 5p cheaper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x2)
- Nothing can rival Grandma's apple pie. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x3)
- The rival team scored 3 goals; we scored 4. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x4)
- She beat her rival in the final race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x5)
- Batman's arch-rival is the Joker. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x6)
- Male deer fight their rivals in autumn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x7)
- All the King’s unsuccessful rivals had gone home in despair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/#x8)

### Note

Countable: rivals. Past tense: rivalled (UK, Australia), rivaled (US). Noun: rivalry. A rival is an opponent, not necessarily an enemy.

## In Jewish tradition

In the verse it means a second wife who is a competitor to the first, here a wife's sister.

**Interpretation.** The law forbids marrying two sisters at once, and the rabbis read it as protecting the bond between sisters and peace in the home.

### Examples

- And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime. (Torah LEV.18.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/rival/#x1)
- And her rival vexed her sore, to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. (Prophets 1SA.1.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/rival/#x2)
- And thou shalt behold a rival in My habitation, in all the good which shall be done to Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever. (Prophets 1SA.2.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/rival/#x3)

### Note

Countable: rivals. Past tense: rivalled (UK, Australia), rivaled (US). Noun: rivalry. A rival is an opponent, not necessarily an enemy.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «rival» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rival/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«rival» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rival.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «rival» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/rival/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«rival» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/rival.html) on Mova free.