opposite English · revision 4232

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1391|origins=la opponere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɒp.ə.zɪt/, US /ˈɑː.pə.zɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|opposyt]],^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|opposite|t=opposite, contrary]], oposite, 13th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|oppositus|t=standing against, opposed]], the past participle of [[m|la|oppōnere|t=to set against]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from ob “in front of, in the way of” and pōnere “to put, set, place”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[oppose]], [[opponent]] and [[position]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Placed or lying on the other side of something”: 1391, in Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun, the opposite side or position, it is from the late 14th century, about 1385 in Chaucer according to Barnhart,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and “that which is contrary in character”, also an opponent, from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) “Contrary in nature, diametrically different” is first recorded in Lyly's Euphues and his England (1580).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) “Hostile, adverse” (1577) is obsolete.^(OED 1989) The preposition, “across from”, is from 1758, in Goldsmith, probably by omission of ''to'' in ''opposite to'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the adverb from 1817, in Shelley.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1391 – on the other side.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1385 – noun, the opposite.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1580 – contrary in nature.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1758 – preposition.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1817 – adverb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Placed directly across from something, or facing each other: ''on opposite sides of the street''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Facing or moving the other way.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Altogether different in nature or meaning; [[contrary]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In botany, growing in pairs on either side of a stem.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or thing that is opposite to another.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An [[antonym]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In an opposite position: ''she sat opposite''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Across from or facing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In a complementary role to, as an actor: ''starred opposite her''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[oppositely]]

+ * [[oppositeness]]

+ * [[subopposite]]

+ * [[opposite number]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oppose]]

+ * [[opponent]]

+ * [[opposition]]

+ * [[position]]

+ * [[apposite]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage distinguishes opposite, of two things altogether different, from contrary, antithetical and contradictory.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}