opposition English · revision 4449

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1386|origins=la opponere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌɒp.əˈzɪʃ.ən/, US /ˌɑː.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|opposicioun]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|oposicion]] (12th century),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly [[der|la|oppositiō|t=act of opposing, a placing against]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from the past participle stem of opponere “to set against”,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from ob “in front of, in the way of” and ponere “to put, place”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[oppose]], [[opposite]] and [[position]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In astrology and astronomy, the position of two heavenly bodies exactly opposite each other: about 1386 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1395 in Barnhart, in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The general sense, the position of something facing or confronting another, is from about 1400.^(Etymonline) In rhetoric a contrary argument is from between 1412 and 1420.^(OED 1989) Something opposite is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline) contrast or contradistinction from 1581,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and hostile action or antagonism from 1588, in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) In logic, the relation between two propositions with the same terms is from 1697.^(OED 1989) A body of opponents, especially the political party opposed to the one in power, is from 1704.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – of heavenly bodies.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a facing position.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1581 – contrast.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1588 – resistance, antagonism.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1697 – in logic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1704 – the political opposition.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of opposing or [[resist]]ing; disagreement or hostility.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The people one is competing against; an [[opponent]] or [[rival]] team.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A political party or group opposed to the one in power, in Britain the largest such party.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Placement opposite to, or in contrast with, something else.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(astronomy, astrology)'' The position of two heavenly bodies exactly opposite each other as seen from the Earth.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[oppositional]]

+ * [[oppositionless]]

+ * [[nonopposition]]

+ * [[oppositionist]]

+ * [[leader of the opposition]]

+ * [[square of opposition]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oppose]]

+ * [[opposite]]

+ * [[position]]

+ * [[opponent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}