opponent

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin oppōnēns (“opposing”), present active participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /əˈpəʊ.nənt/ (Indic) IPA(key): /əˈpo.nᵻnʈ/, (spelling pronunciation) /ˈɔ.pə.nᵻnʈ/ === Noun === opponent (plural opponents) One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something. One who opposes another physically (in a fight, sport, game, or competition). 1720, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer, London: Bernard Lintott, Volume 6, “Observations on the Twenty-Third Book,” no. 39, p. 136,[1] In the Chariot-Race Achilles is represented as being able to conquer every Opponent […] One who opposes another in words (in a dispute, argument or controversy). One who is opposed or objects (to a policy, course of action or set of ideas). (historical) The participant who opens an academic debate by putting forward objections to a theological or philosophical thesis. ==== Synonyms ==== ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “one who opposes”): supporter, proponent, advocate (antonym(s) of “person who opens an academic debate”): respondent ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === opponent (comparative more opponent, superlative most opponent) (obsolete) Opposing; adverse; antagonistic. (obsolete) Situated in front; opposite. === Further reading === “opponent”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “opponent”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. “opponent”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present. “opponent” (US) / “opponent” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary. opponent in Britannica Dictionary opponent in Macmillan Collocations Dictionary opponent in Sentence collocations by Cambridge Dictionary opponent in Ozdic collocation dictionary opponent in WordReference English Collocations “opponent, opposer, detractor, adversary, antagonist”, in Google Books Ngram Viewer. == Latin == === Verb === oppōnent third-person plural future active indicative of oppōnō