opposable

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English oppose

Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr

Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlomder.

Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis

Proto-Italic *-ðlis

Latin -bilis

Latin -ābilis

Old French -ablebor.

Middle English -able

English -able

English opposable

From oppose + -able.

Adjective

opposable (comparative more opposable, superlative most opposable)

1. Susceptible to being opposed or resisted.

   Antonym: unopposable

2. Capable of being placed opposite something else.

   Antonym: nonopposable

   The thumb is opposable to the forefinger.

Derived terms

• opposable thumb
• opposably
• unopposable

Translations

susceptible to being resisted

• Dutch: weerstaanbaar
• Finnish: vastustettava

capable of being placed opposite

• Dutch: opponeerbaar (nl)
• Finnish: vastakkainen (fi)
• French: opposable (fr)
• Polish: przeciwstawny (pl)