against
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] 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.
[edit] Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA: /əˈgɛnst/, /əˈgeɪnst/, SAMPA: /@"gEnst/, /@"geInst/
- (US) IPA: /əˈgɛnst/, SAMPA: /@"gEnst/
- Audio (US)help, file
- Hyphenation: a‧gainst
[edit] 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.
- The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.
- In exchange for
- As counterbalance to
- As a charge on
- As protection from.
- He turned the umbrella against the wind.
- {obsolete}} Exposed to
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Translations
in a contrary direction to
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in front of; before a background
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in opposition to
in competition with
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as a charge to
as protection from
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
[edit] Conjunction
against
- (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
- 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.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 6:
