opposite
EnglishEdit
Alternative formsEdit
- opposit (archaic)
EtymologyEdit
From Old French oposite, from Latin oppositus, perfect passive participle of oppōnō (“I oppose”). Compare oppose.
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
opposite (not comparable)
- Located directly across from something else, or from each other.
- She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.
- (botany) Of leaves and flowers, positioned directly across from each other on a stem.
- Facing in the other direction.
- They were moving in opposite directions.
- Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.
- He is attracted to the opposite sex.
- Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
- 1697, Virgil, “Dedication”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pieasure opposite to that which is designed in an epick poem.
- 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:, Book III
- Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite, significations.
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
located directly across from
|
facing the other way
|
of complementary or mutually exclusive things
|
NounEdit
opposite (plural opposites)
- Something opposite or contrary to something else.
- A person or thing that is entirely different from or the reverse of someone or something else; used to show contrast between two people or two things.
- She is the opposite of her ex-boyfriend who abused her both physically and verbally nearly every day for five years. She now works as an advocate and supportive listener for others who have endured abusive relationships.
- An opponent.
- An antonym.
- "Up" is the opposite of "down".
- (mathematics) An additive inverse.
Derived termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
contrary thing
|
opponent
|
antonym
|
AdverbEdit
opposite (not comparable)
- In an opposite position.
- I was on my seat and she stood opposite.
- Where's the bus station? -Over there, just opposite.
TranslationsEdit
in an opposite position
|
PrepositionEdit
opposite
- Facing, or across from.
- He lives opposite the pub.
- 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 01:
- It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. […]. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.
- In a complementary role to.
- He played opposite Marilyn Monroe.
- (television) On another channel at the same time.
- The game show Just Men! aired opposite The Young and the Restless on CBS.
TranslationsEdit
across from
|
in a complementary role to
|
See alsoEdit
LatinEdit
AdjectiveEdit
opposite
ReferencesEdit
Middle FrenchEdit
AdjectiveEdit
opposite m or f (plural opposites)
- opposite (located directly across from something else, or from each other)
NounEdit
opposite f (plural opposites)
- opposite side
ReferencesEdit
- Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle (1881) (opposeur)