Against Definition
against
Contents |
English
Alternative forms
- againest (obsolete)
- agaynst (obsolete)
- agaynest (obsolete)
- agenst (obsolete)
- agenest (obsolete)
- ageinst (obsolete)
- ageinest (obsolete, rare)
- ageynst (obsolete)
- ageynest (obsolete, rare)
- agin (colloquial or humorous)
Etymology
Formed from Middle English agenes, againes "in opposition to", a southern variant of agen, or directly from again, eitherway with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic -t was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA: /əˈɡɛnst/, /əˈɡeɪnst/, SAMPA: /@"gEnst/, /@"geInst/
- (US) IPA: /əˈɡɛnst/, SAMPA: /@"gEnst/
-
Audio (US) (file) - Hyphenation: a‧gainst
Preposition
against
- In a contrary direction to.
- If you swim against the current, you must work harder.
- Close to.
- In front of; before a background.
- The giant was silhouetted against the door.
- In physical contact with.
- The puppy rested its head against a paw.
- In physical opposition to, or in collision with.
- The rain pounds against the window.
- In contrast and/or comparison with
- He stands out against his local classmates
- In competition with, versus.
- The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.
- 2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4 - 1 Swansea”, BBC Sport:
- The breakthrough came through Torres who, pilloried for his miss against Manchester United a week earlier, scored his second goal of the season.
- In opposition to.
- Are you against freedom of choice?
- I'd bet against his succeeding.
- In exchange for
- As counterbalance to
- As a charge on
- As protection from.
- He turned the umbrella against the wind.
- 1988 1 March 1988, Caroni, Pico; Schwab, Martin E., “Antibody against myelin associated inhibitor of neurite growth neutralizes nonpermissive substrate properties of CNS white matter”, Neuron, DOI:10.1016/0896-6273(88)90212-7, page 85:
- Monoclonal antibodies were raised against these proteins: IN-1 and IN-2 bound both to the 35 kd and 250 kd inhibitors and to the surface of differentiated cultured oligodendrocytes.
- (obsolete) Exposed to
Synonyms
Antonyms
Conjunction
against
- (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.ix:
- Thence she them brought into a stately Hall, / Wherein were many tables faire dispred, / And ready dight with drapets festiuall, / Against the viaundes should be ministred.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 6:
- He now gave Mrs Deborah positive orders to take the child to her own bed, and to call up a maid-servant to provide it pap, and other things, against it waked.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.ix:
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