opposite

opposite
I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oppositus, past participle of opponere Date: 14th century 1. a. set over against something that is at the other end or side of an intervening line or space <
opposite interior angles
>
<
opposite ends of a diameter
>
b. situated in pairs on an axis with each member being separated from the other by half the circumference of the axis <
opposite leaves
>
— compare alternate 2. a. occupying an opposing and often antagonistic position <
opposite sides of the question
>
b. diametrically different (as in nature or character) <
opposite meanings
>
3. contrary to one another or to a thing specified ; reverse <
gave them opposite directions
>
4. being the other of a pair that are corresponding or complementary in position, function, or nature <
members of the opposite sex
>
5. of, relating to, or being the side of a baseball field that is near the first base line for a right-handed batter and near the third base line for a left-handed batter • oppositely adverboppositeness noun Synonyms: opposite, contradictory, contrary, antithetical mean being so far apart as to be or seem irreconcilable. opposite applies to things in sharp contrast or in conflict <
opposite views on foreign aid
>
. contradictory applies to two things that completely negate each other so that if one is true or valid the other must be untrue or invalid <
made contradictory predictions about whether the market would rise or fall
>
. contrary implies extreme divergence or diametrical opposition <
contrary assessments of the war situation
>
. antithetical stresses clear and unequivocal diametrical opposition <
a law that is antithetical to the very idea of democracy
>
. II. noun Date: 15th century 1. something that is opposed to some other often specified thing 2. antonym 3. additive inverse; especially the additive inverse of a real number III. adverb Date: 1667 on or to an opposite side IV. preposition Date: 1758 1. across from and usually facing or on the same level with <
sat opposite each other
>
2. in a role complementary to <
played opposite the leading man in the comedy
>

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • opposite — [ ɔpozit ] n. m. • 1325; adj. XIIIe; lat. oppositus « opposé » → opposé ♦ Vx Lieu, côté opposé; manière opposée. ♢ Mod. Loc. adv. À L OPPOSITE; loc. prép. À L OPPOSITE DE. Leurs maisons sont situées à l opposite l une de l autre, en face. ⇒ vis à …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • opposite — Ⅰ. opposite UK US /ˈɒpəzɪt/ adjective ► completely different: opposite to sth »This year s conference is completely opposite to last year s, which was very poorly attended. »The new rates of pay were intended to increase staff morale, but they… …   Financial and business terms

  • opposite# — opposite n contradictory, contrary, antithesis, antipode, antonym (see under OPPOSITE adj) opposite adj Opposite, contradictory, contrary, antithetical, antipodal, antipodean, antonymous are comparable chiefly as applied to abstractions and as… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • opposite — op po*site ([o^]p p[ o]*z[i^]t or [o^]p p[ o]*s[i^]t), a. [F., fr. L. oppositus, p. p. of opponere. See {Opponent}.] 1. Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; often with to; as, a house opposite to the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • opposite — Opposite. adj. de tout genre Qui est dans une situation opposée La rive opposite. le rivage opposite. Il s employe quelquefois au substantif, & alors il signifie Contraire. De ces deux hommes l un est doux, honneste & civil, l autre est brusque,… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • opposite — [äp′ə zit, äp′əsit] adj. [OFr < L oppositus, pp. of opponere: see OPPONENT] 1. set against, facing, or back to back; at the other end or side; in a contrary position or direction: often with to 2. characterized by hostility or resistance 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • opposite — As an adjective denoting position, opposite is followed by to (Two people directly opposite to each other); it is also used with the same meaning as a preposition without to (Two people directly opposite each other). As a noun, opposite is… …   Modern English usage

  • Opposite — may refer to: Opposite (semantics), a word that means the opposite of a word Botany: a kind of arrangement of leaves Additive inverse, in mathematics, taking the negative ( opposite ) of a number Opposite category or dual category, in category… …   Wikipedia

  • opposite — ► ADJECTIVE 1) situated on the other or further side; facing. 2) completely different. 3) being the other of a contrasted pair. 4) (of angles) between opposite sides of the intersection of two lines. ► NOUN ▪ an opposite person or thing. ► ADVERB …   English terms dictionary

  • Opposite — Op po*site, n. 1. One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The opposites of this day s strife. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is opposed or contrary in character or meaning; as, sweetness and its opposite; up is the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • opposite — [adj] unlike, conflicting; completely different adverse, antagonistic, antipodal, antipodean, antithetical, contradictory, contrapositive, contrary, contrasted, corresponding, counter, crosswise, diametric, diametrically opposed, different,… …   New thesaurus

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