opponent

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈpəʊ.nənt/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin opponens (“setting against”), the present participle of oppōnere (“to set against, oppose”),^[2][3][4] from ob (“against, in front of”) and pōnere (“to put, place”) (see position).^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who maintains a contrary argument in a disputation, especially in a university: 1588 in the OED and Barnhart, the 1580s in Etymonline;^[5][2][3] MWU dates it to 1553.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The general sense, one who opposes another in a contest or fight, is from 1615.^[5][3] The adjective, opposing, is from 1647,^[2][5] and in anatomy it describes a muscle that moves the thumb against the fingers (1842).^[5]

Timeline

• 1553 – first use (MWU).^[4]
• 1588 – one who argues against a thesis.^[5][2]
• 1615 – an adversary.^[5]
• 1647 – the adjective.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A person who opposes another in a contest, battle or argument; an adversary.
2. A person who is against a plan or idea.

Adjective

1. Opposing; acting against.

Word family

• opponency

Related words

• oppose
• opposite
• position
• component
• exponent
• proponent

Usage notes

The AHD distinguishes it from synonyms: an opponent simply opposes; an adversary is usually more hostile; an antagonist is actively engaged in a struggle; an enemy may feel hatred or seek harm.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin