oppose

What it means

1. To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against.

   to oppose the king in battle

   3 more examples

   to oppose a bill in Congress

   There is still time to oppose this plan.

   I am […] too weak / To oppose your cunning.

   1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]

   Synonyms: confront, withstand, resist, hinder, obstruct, buck, react

2. To object to.

   Many religious leaders oppose cloning humans.

   Synonyms: take issue with, speak out, contest, repugn, argue

3. To present or set up in opposition; to pose.

   They are opposed to any form of hierarchy.

   2 more examples

   , Book I I may […] oppose my single opinion to his.

   [T]hree walls had been left standing, with large intervals between each; and they would certainly oppose a most formidable interruption to an invader.

   1839, Philip Meadows Taylor, Confessions of a Thug

In a sentence

to oppose the king in battle

Where it comes from

1. Latinopponere“to oppose”
2. Medieval Latinpono“to put”
3. Latinob“before, against”
4. Old Frenchopposer
5. Middle Englishopposen
6. Englishoppose

From Middle English opposen, from Old French opposer, from Latin ob (“before, against”) + Medieval Latin pono (“to put”), taking the place of Latin opponere (“to oppose”).