Opposes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Acts against or resists something, often by expressing disagreement or working to prevent it
2. Stands in opposition to a proposal, idea, or action, trying to block or hinder it
3. Expresses opposition or resistance to someone or something, aiming to prevent or counteract it

Etymology: "Opposes" is simply the third-person singular present form of "oppose," so the story belongs to its root verb. That verb came into Middle English as "opposen," borrowed from Old French "opposer." The Old French word was built from Latin "ob," meaning "before" or "against," combined with a Medieval Latin verb "pono," meaning "to put." Together they formed a sense of putting something in front of, or against, another thing. The word took the place of the classical Latin "opponere," which carried the same meaning of setting something against something else. The medieval form replaced its classical ancestor in the spoken and written language that fed into French and then English, so the modern verb is a descendant of the Latin idea transmitted through a later Latin form.

Synonyms: resists, challenges, contradicts, disagrees, fights

Antonyms: supports, endorses, approves, aids, assists