against

English Online Dictionary. What means against‎? What does against mean?

English

Alternative forms

• againest (obsolete), agaynest (obsolete), agaynst (obsolete)
• ageinest (obsolete, rare), ageinst (obsolete), agenest (obsolete), agenst (obsolete), ageynest (obsolete, rare), ageynst (obsolete), agin (colloquial or humorous)
• 'gainst, gainst (poetic)

Etymology

Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes (“in opposition to”), a southern variant of agen, or directly from again, either way with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic -t was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est. By surface analysis, again +‎ -st (excrescent ending).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əˈɡɛnst/, IPA^(key): /əˈɡeɪnst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈɡɛnst/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /əˈɡɛnst/, /əˈɡeɪnst/, [əˈɡeə̯nst], [əˈɡɛːnst]
• Rhymes: -ɛnst, -eɪnst
• Hyphenation: a‧gainst

Preposition

against

1. In a contrary direction to.

2. In physical opposition to; in collision with.
3. In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.

4. Close to, alongside.

   A row of trees stood against a fence.
5. In front of; before (a background).

6. In contrast or comparison with.

7. In competition with, versus.
8. Contrary to; in conflict with.

   Doing this is against my principles.

   It is against the law to smoke on these premises.

   There was no car in sight so we crossed against the red light.

9. In opposition to.

   Antonym: for

   (with implied object) Ten voted for, and three voted against.
10. Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.

    Antonym: on

    That horse is fifty-to-one against, so it has virtually no chance of winning.

11. In exchange for.

12. As counterbalance to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
13. As a charge on.

    Tax is levied against income from sales.

14. As protection from.
15. In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).

    The stores are kept well stocked against a time of need.
16. (Hollywood) To be paid now in contrast to the following amount to be paid later under specified circumstances, usually that a movie is made or has started filming.

    The studio weren't sure the movie would ever get made, so they only paid $50,000 against $200,000. That way they wouldn't be out very much if filming never began.
17. (obsolete) Exposed to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Synonyms

• (in competition with): versus

Antonyms

• with

Derived terms

Translations

Conjunction

against

1. (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.

Translations

Anagrams

• Gaitans, antigas, antisag

Scots

Etymology

Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes (“in opposition to”), a southern variant of agen. Equivalent to again +‎ -s (“adverbial genitive”) +‎ -t.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈɡenst/, /əˈɡɛnst/

Preposition

against

1. towards, near (of time)

References

• “against, prep.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.