oppose English · revision 15145

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la oppōnō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈpəʊz/, US /əˈpoʊz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|opposen]], [[bor|fro|opposer]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) formed from [[la|ob-|t=against, in front of]] and [[m|fro|poser|t=to place]] (see [[pose]]), with its sense blended with that of [[m|la|oppōnō|t=to oppose, set against]] (see [[opponent]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To confront with objections or hard questions: about 1380, in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, in Barnhart; about 1386 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Etymonline gives to speak or act against, accuse or question, late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To put objections is from 1390, and to audit accounts, now obsolete, from before 1483.^(OED 1989) Setting one thing against another as a counterpoise is from 1579, and placing it opposite from 1593.^(OED 1989) The sense to try to hinder or resist is first recorded in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV, 1596.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Opposite and opposition (in astronomy) are from the 14th century, and opposition as a political party from the 18th.^(Hoad 1986) Opposable is from 1667, and of the thumb from 1833.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – to confront with objections.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1390 – to put objections.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – to set against as a counterpoise.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1596 – to resist, hinder.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1667 – opposable.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fight against, counter or [[resist]] strongly.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+ # To be against; to be hostile to.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To set in contrast or as a counterbalance.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To place opposite or facing something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To act or be in opposition.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[opposer]]

+ * [[opposingly]]

+ * [[opposeless]]

+ * [[reoppose]]

+ * [[opposable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[opponent]]

+ * [[opposite]]

+ * [[opposition]]

+ * [[pose]]

+ * [[position]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}