opponent

opponent
/euh poh"neuhnt/, n.
1. a person who is on an opposing side in a game, contest, controversy, or the like; adversary.
adj.
2. being opposite, as in position.
3. opposing; adverse; antagonistic.
4. Anat. bringing parts together or into opposition, as a muscle.
[1580-90; < L opponent- (s. of opponens, prp. of opponere to place over, against, or in front of, make an obstacle), equiv. to op- OP- + pon(ere) to place, set, put + -ent- -ENT]
Syn. 1. antagonist. OPPONENT, COMPETITOR, RIVAL refer to persons engaged in a contest. OPPONENT is the most impersonal, meaning merely one who opposes; perhaps one who continually blocks and frustrates or one who happens to be on the opposite side in a temporary contest: an opponent in a debate. COMPETITOR emphasizes the action in striving against another, or others, for a definite, common goal: competitors in business. RIVAL has both personal and emotional connotations; it emphasizes the idea that (usually) two persons are struggling to attain the same object: rivals for an office.
Ant. 1. ally, friend.

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  • opponent — [ə pō′nənt] n. [< L opponens, prp. of opponere < ob (see OB ) + ponere, to place: see POSITION] a person who opposes; person against one in a fight, game, debate, argument, etc.; adversary adj. 1. Rare opposite, as in position 2. opposing;… …   English World dictionary

  • Opponent — Op*po nent, n. 1. One who opposes; an adversary; an antagonist; a foe. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 2. One who opposes in a disputation, argument, or other verbal controversy; specifically, one who attacks some thesis or proposition, in distinction… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Opponent — (lat. opponere: entgegensetzen, einwenden) ist die Bezeichnung für einen Argumentationsgegner. Der Ausdruck wird in einem Promotionsverfahren und in der Dialogischen Logik verwendet. Gutachter im Promotionsverfahren Bei einer Promotion hatte oder …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • opponent — opponent, antagonist, adversary all denote one who expresses or manifests opposition. Unlike enemy they do not necessarily imply personal animosity or hostility. An opponent is one who is on the opposite side in a contest (as an argument,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Opponent — Op*po nent, a. [L. opponens, entis, p. pr. of opponere to set or place against, to oppose; ob (see {Ob }) + ponere to place. See {Position}.] Situated in front; opposite; hence, opposing; adverse; antagonistic. Pope. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Opponént — (lat.), bei einer Disputation Gegner des Disputanten; opponieren, widersprechen …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • opponent — I noun adversarius, adversary, adverse party, challenger, combatant, contender, cornval, disputant, one who opposes, opposer, opposing litigant, opposing party, opposite, opposite side, opposition, other side II index adversary, contender, cont …   Law dictionary

  • opponent — (n.) 1580s, from L. opponentem (nom. opponens), prp. of opponere oppose, object to, set against, from ob against (see OB (Cf. ob )) + ponere to put, set, place (see POSITION (Cf. position)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • opponent — [n] person with whom one competes adversary, antagonist, anti*, aspirant, assailant, bandit*, bidder, candidate, challenger, competitor, con, contestant, counteragent, dark horse*, disputant, dissentient, enemy, entrant, foe, litigant, match,… …   New thesaurus

  • opponent — ► NOUN 1) a person who competes with or fights another in a contest, game, or argument. 2) a person who disagrees with or resists a proposal or practice. ORIGIN from Latin opponere set against …   English terms dictionary

  • opponent — op|po|nent W3 [əˈpəunənt US əˈpou ] n [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: , present participle of opponere; OPPOSE] 1.) someone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight, or argument ▪ Graf s opponent in today s final will be Sukova.… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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