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  1. fifth column love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A clandestine subversive organization working within a country to further an invading enemy's military and political aims.

Wiktionary

  1. n. dated A group of people which clandestinely undermines a larger group, such as a nation, to which it is expected to be loyal.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. a group of persons inside the battle lines of a territory engaged in a conflict, who secretly sympathize with the enemy, and who engage in espionage or sabotage; -- sometimes also referred to as a trojan horse.
  2. n. Hence, any faction of persons within a group who secretly sympathize with an enemy, especially those who engage in activities harmful to the group; an enemy in one's midst; a group of traitors.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a subversive group that supports the enemy and engages in espionage or sabotage; an enemy in your midst

Etymologies

  1. From a 1936 radio address by Spanish Nationalist general Emilio Mola, in which he spoke of four of his army columns moving on Madrid and a quinta columna consisting of his militant supporters within the capital, intent on undermining the Republican government from within. (Wiktionary)
  2. First applied in 1936 to rebel sympathizers inside Madrid when four columns of rebel troops were attacking that city. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

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‘fifth column’ has been looked up 780 times, loved by 2 people, added to 8 lists, and is not a valid Scrabble word.