against
/əˈɡɛnst/ preposition, conjunction
Forms againest agaynest agaynst ageinest ageinst agenest agenst ageynest ageynst 'gainst gainst agin
- preposition In a contrary direction to. “It is hard work to swim against the current.”
- preposition In physical opposition to; in collision with. “The rain pounds against the window.”
- preposition In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by. “The ladder was leaning against the wall.”
- preposition Close to, alongside. “A row of trees stood against a fence.”
- preposition In front of; before (a background). “The giant was silhouetted against the door.”
- preposition In contrast or comparison with. “He stands out against his classmates.”
- preposition In competition with, versus. “The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.”
- preposition Contrary to; in conflict with. “Doing this is against my principles.”
- conjunction (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes (“in opposition to”), a southern variant of agen, or directly from again, either way with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic -t was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est. By surface analysis, again + -st (excrescent ending).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian juun (“against”), West Frisian tsjin (“against”), Dutch tegen (“against”), German Low German gegen (“against”), German gegen (“against”), Icelandic gegn (“against”).
Webster’s 1913
- preposition Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; --in this sense often preceded by over.
- preposition From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof.
Etymology [OE. agens, ageynes, AS. ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See Again.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “against”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details