ongean

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See also: ongean-

Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-West Germanic [Term?]. Compare Old Saxon angegin, Middle Dutch entegen (Dutch entegen), Old High German ingegin (German entgegen). By surface analysis, on- +‎ ġean.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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onġēan

  1. opposite
  2. back
  3. with
    • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost"
      On ðisum andweardan life sind þa gecorenan feawa geðuhte onġēan getel þæra wiðercorenra, ac þonne hí to ðam ecan life gegaderode beoð, heora tel bið swa menigfeald, þæt hit oferstihð, be ðæs witegan cwyde, sand-ceosles gerím.
      In this present life the chosen appear few in comparison with the number of the reprobates, but when they shall be gathered to the eternal life, their number will be so manifold, that it will exceed, according to the prophet's saying, the number of the sand-grains.

Preposition

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onġēan (with dative or (giving sense of motion) accusative)

  1. against (+dative)
  2. against as in to oppose with hositility (+accusative)
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Agnes, Virgin"
      ...and we feohtan ne durston ongean ðone ormætan here..
      ...and we durst not fight against the overwhelming army,...

Synonyms

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Descendants

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