Opposable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Referring to anatomical structures that enable the positioning of one part across from another to enhance grasping abilities
2. Pertaining to features that permit the interaction of two opposing elements, thus improving manipulation and control
3. Capable of being placed opposite another part to facilitate holding or gripping objects

Etymology: "Opposable" is simply "oppose" with the suffix "-able" attached, meaning "able to be opposed." Its ancestry runs back through Latin, where "-bilis" and "-ābilis" added the sense of capability or fitness to a verb, and then through Old French "-able," which English took up as a productive ending that could be fastened onto many verbs. The more unusual part of the story is the word's meaning. Its base, "oppose," comes from Old French "opposer," and it carries the idea of setting one thing against another. Over time, the suffix and that core sense combined into the specific modern meaning of something placed against another object, most famously a thumb that can touch the fingertips across the palm, which is why the word is often used in anatomy and biology.

Synonyms: contradictory, contrasting, antithetical

Antonyms: complementary, congruent, aligned, cooperative, supportive