against en · ADP
Pronunciation
- /əˈɡɪnst/ Southern US, African-American Vernacular, pin–pen merger
- /əˈɡeɪnst/ (Canada, Received-Pronunciation)
- /əˈɡenst/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- (US) audio
- /əˈɡɛnst/ (General-American)
- /əˈɡɛnst/ (Canada, Received-Pronunciation)
- /əˈɡæɪnst/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Germanic *in Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰengʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *ganganąder.? Proto-Germanic *gagin Proto-Germanic *in gagin Proto-West Germanic *in gagin Old English onġēander. Middle English ayenes English against 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). Cognate with Saterland Frisian juun (“against”), West Frisian tsjin (“against”), Dutch tegen (“against”), German Low German gegen (“against”), German gegen (“against”), Icelandic gegn (“against”).
Meanings
-
In a contrary direction to.
It is hard work to swim against the current.
-
In physical opposition to; in collision with.
Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house ; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something ; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.
1922, Michael Arlen, “3/19/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:The rain pounds against the window.
-
In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.
The ladder was leaning against the wall.
The kennel was put against the back wall.
The puppy rested its head against a paw.
-
Close to, alongside.
A row of trees stood against a fence.
We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine.[…]As we reached the lodge we heard the whistle, and we backed up against one side of the platform as the train pulled up at the other.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
-
In front of; before (a background).
The giant was silhouetted against the door.
-
In contrast or comparison with.
There is an awesome authenticity in Barrus's voice which, I imagine, is frightening to those who must evaluate art against a one-dimensional standard of political rectitude.
1986 February 15, Lars Eighner, “A Homosexual Norman Mailer?”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 31, page 5:He stands out against his classmates.
This report sets out the risks against the benefits.
-
In competition with, versus.
The breakthrough came through Torres who, pilloried for his miss against Manchester United a week earlier, scored his second goal of the season.
2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4-1 Swansea”, in BBC Sport:“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.
-
Contrary to; in conflict with.
There was no car in sight so we crossed against the red light.
Doing this is against my principles.
It is against the law to smoke on these premises.
-
In opposition to.
(with implied object) Ten voted for, and three voted against.
I'd bet against his succeeding.
He waged a ten-year campaign against the company that was polluting the river.
His mind is closed against all arguments.
Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation,[…]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe.
2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:Are you against freedom of choice?
-
Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.
That horse is fifty-to-one against, so it has virtually no chance of winning.
-
In exchange for.
The vouchers are redeemable against West End shows and theatre breaks.
- As counterbalance to.
-
As a charge on.
Tax is levied against income from sales.
-
As protection from.
Beautie alone is a ſoveraigne remedy againſt feare,griefe,and all melancholy fits; a charm,as Peter de la Seine and many other writers affirme,a banquet it ſelfe;he gives inſtance in diſcontented Menelaus that was ſo often freed by Helenas faire face: and ʰTully, 3 Tusc. cites Epicurus as a chiefe patron of this Tenent.
1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [Robert Young, Miles Flesher, and Leonard Lichfield and William Turner] for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 2, member 6, subsection iv, page 298:Monoclonal antibodies were raised against these proteins: IN-1 and IN-2 bound both to the 35 kd and 250 kd inhibitors and to the surface of differentiated cultured oligodendrocytes.
1988 March 1, Pico Caroni with Martin E. Schwab, “Antibody against myelin associated inhibitor of neurite growth neutralizes nonpermissive substrate properties of CNS white matter”, in Neuron, →DOI, page 85:He turned the umbrella against the wind.
-
In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).
A quarter of a mile inland we came upon the holluschickie -- sleek young bulls, living out the loneliness of their bachelorhood and gathering strength against the day when they would fight their way into the ranks of the benedicts
1904, Jack London, chapter 30, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:He wrote to a friend of his, that he lived but with browne bread and water, and entreated him to send him a piece of cheese, against [translating pour] the time he was to make a solemne feast.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 11, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:Rod, who always distrusted such methods, was forced to accept the new way but had begun to stash away large amounts of cash against the day that the system might be sabotaged or failed entirely.
2003, Rodger J. Bille, A Few of the Chosen: Survivors of Terrorism, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 8:"And now leave me, I pray thee, and thou too, my own Kallikrates, for I would get me ready against our journey, and so must ye both, and your servant also."
1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:The stores are kept well stocked against a time of need.
Of the two fried chops served him for breakfast he ate one and gave Edmund the other, and put a buttered sandwich of bread in his pocket against the accidents of travel.
1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 18:
-
(qualifier: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.
“Hollywood noises” yielded an early $35,000 option against $100,000 if the movie was made.
2011, Charles Foran, Mordecai: The Life & Times:
- (obsolete) Exposed to.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ageinst | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| agaynst | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| agenst | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| againest | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| 'gainst | alternative, poetic | lexicographic | |
| ageinest | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| agenest | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| agaynest | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| ageynest | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| ageynst | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| gainst | alternative, poetic | lexicographic | |
| agin | alternative, dialectal | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
have against · whereagainst · discriminated-against · rule against perpetuities · weigh against · againster · bear against · work both ends against the middle · give against · against all expectations · against all odds · against nature · run up against · play both ends against the middle · up against it · play both sides against the middle · set against · tell against · push up against · hit up against · against the clock · stand up against · beat one's head against a stone wall · go up against · against one's better judgment · against the world · againstness · side against · talk against time · go against · pit against · take against · crime against humanity · come up against · back against the wall · play against type · a house divided against itself cannot stand · raise a finger against · crime against nature · race against time · turn against · sell against the box · set one's face against · hold against · stumble against · push against an open door · againstism · run against · against the law · count against · against the hair · as against · lift one's hand against · dead against · against time · criminal against humanity · against the run of play · against the grain · kick against the pricks · kick against · declare against · against the collar · dead set against · hereagainst · work both sides against the middle · against someone's will · lift a finger against · race against the clock · play one against another · chalk against · death against · brief against · as much sinning as sinned against · guard against · thereagainst · up against the wall · act against · go against the grain · bring up against · advise against · make head against · up against the ropes · over against · bang one's head against a brick wall · hope against hope · up against · rub up against · make against
Synonyms
versus (in competition with)
Translations (322)
ru по (in physical contact with) · he נגד (in a contrary direction to) · izh vassoin (in a contrary direction to) · it contro (in a contrary direction to) · fr pour (in anticipation of, in preparation for) · tl kontra (in opposition to) · da mod (in exchange for) · sv mot (in physical contact with) · pl o (in physical contact with) · vi với (in competition with) · sh protiv (in a contrary direction to) · be аб (in physical contact with) · pl z (in competition with) · fi vasten (in front of; before a background) · es en contrario de (in opposition to) · io kontre (as protection from) · fi edessä (in front of; before a background) · gd an aghaidh (in competition with) · eo anstataŭ (as counterbalance to) · arz ضد (in opposition to) · eo kontraŭ (in a contrary direction to) · sh против (in opposition to) · sw dhidi ya (in opposition to) · uz qarshi (in opposition to) · pt sobre (as a charge to) · be су́праць (in opposition to) · ro contra (in exchange for) · fur cuintri (in a contrary direction to) · eu aurka (in a contrary direction to) · eo kompare (in contrast or comparison with) · ca a tocar de (close to) · ml എതിരെ (in a contrary direction to) · ru взаме́н (in exchange for) · cy o flaen (in front of; before a background) · da versus (in competition with) · eo kontraŭ (in competition with) · he נגד (in opposition to) · io apud (close to) · ca enfront de (in anticipation of, in preparation for) · nl tegen (in physical contact with) · ru ря́дом с (close to) · el κόντρα (in a contrary direction to) · ga in aghaidh (in opposition to) · ang aġēn (in opposition to) · sv mot (as protection from) · it in cambio di (in exchange for) · la contra (in a contrary direction to) · sh protiv (in opposition to) · ru от (as protection from) · ru на (in exchange for) · ca davant (as protection from) · ky каршы (in opposition to) · la in (in a contrary direction to) · el κατά (in competition with) · el rest (in contrast or comparison with) · eo kontraŭ (in exchange for) · sk proti (in opposition to) · ru в обме́н (in exchange for) · br ouz (in a contrary direction to) · tl kontra (as protection from) · fi verrattuna (in contrast or comparison with) · nl tegen (in opposition to) · da mod (in physical contact with) · cs proti (in front of; before a background) · km នៅក្នុងការប្រៀបធៀប (in contrast or comparison with) · uk від (as protection from) · ga in aghaidh (in a contrary direction to) · ml ചേർന്ന് (in physical contact with) · cs proti (in opposition to) · es sobre (as a charge to) · el κοντά (close to) · es enfrente de (in opposition to) · grc κατά (in opposition to) · ka საწინააღმდეგოდ (in front of; before a background) · sv emot (in opposition to) · tr karşı (in a contrary direction to) · gd mu choinneimh (in front of; before a background) · nn imot (in a contrary direction to) · fi vastaan (in exchange for) · sq përballë (in a contrary direction to) · ka წინააღმდეგი (in opposition to) · bg за (in exchange for) · uk про́ти (in opposition to) · eo antaŭ (in front of; before a background) · sv mot (in a contrary direction to) · ca enfront de (as protection from) · ja ...に反して (in opposition to) · no imot (in opposition to) · eo ĉe (close to) · ca per a (in anticipation of, in preparation for) · es contra (in a contrary direction to) · cs o (in physical contact with) · de gegen (in competition with) · bg про́тив (in opposition to) · bn বিরুদ্ধে (in opposition to) · pt contra (in opposition to) · pt contra (in physical contact with) · de mit (in competition with) · km ប្រឆាំងនឹង (in competition with) · io kontre (in a contrary direction to) · eo kontraŭ (in opposition to) · uk про́ти (as protection from) · fr face à (as protection from) · izh vassen (in opposition to) · fi vastavirtaan (in a contrary direction to) · mk против (as protection from) · ca contra (in a contrary direction to) · sw dhidi ya (in a contrary direction to) · it contro (in competition with) · gd an aghaidh (in opposition to) · sq kundër (in a contrary direction to) · fi vastaan (as counterbalance to) · ca en contra (in opposition to) · cy yn erbyn (in a contrary direction to) · af teen (in a contrary direction to) · izh vassoin (in opposition to) · pt por (in exchange for) · ckb دژ بە (in opposition to) · ca davant (in front of; before a background) · bg обратно на (in a contrary direction to) · da mod (in a contrary direction to) · ca en comptes de (as counterbalance to) · no mot (in a contrary direction to) · ca en contra (in competition with) · el κοντά (in physical contact with) · ja ...に逆らって (in opposition to) · izh vassen (in a contrary direction to) · eo kontraŭ (in physical contact with) · fr contre (in a contrary direction to) · sl proti (in opposition to) · ckb دِژی (in opposition to) · io an (in physical contact with) · pt diante de (in front of; before a background) · nl tegen (as protection from) · fy tsjin (in a contrary direction to) · it contro (in contrast or comparison with) · cs proti (in competition with) · kmr dijî (in a contrary direction to) · fi vasten (in physical contact with) · be наўзаме́н (in exchange for) · ko 거슬러 (in a contrary direction to) · ru про́тив (in competition with) · mk против (in competition with) · da i stedet (as counterbalance to) · zdj pvo ... djuu (in opposition to) · ka საწინააღმდეგოდ (in physical contact with) · lv pret (in a contrary direction to) · da mod (close to) · bg на фона на (in front of; before a background) · ca en comptes de (in exchange for) · it contro (in physical contact with) · ca contra (in physical contact with) · mk против (in a contrary direction to) · vec contra (in a contrary direction to) · nap cóntro (in a contrary direction to) · ru про́тив (as protection from) · ar ضِدّ (in opposition to) · ko 맞서 (in a contrary direction to) · eo kontraste (in contrast or comparison with) · fi vasten (close to) · ru напро́тив (in front of; before a background) · ta எதிர்க்க (in a contrary direction to) · uk на (in exchange for) · km នៅពីមុខ (in front of; before a background) · mk наспроти (in a contrary direction to) · be ад (as protection from) · sw juu ya (in opposition to) · mk против (in opposition to) · ro contra (in opposition to) · az qarşı (in opposition to) · bg против (as protection from) · shi afna (in opposition to) · ar ضد (in a contrary direction to) · ja ...に反して (in a contrary direction to) · ka შედარებით (in contrast or comparison with) · pl przeciwko (in opposition to) · bg до (close to) · ro contra (in a contrary direction to) · ca enfront de (in opposition to) · ca sobre (as a charge to) · no mot (in opposition to) · gl contra (in physical contact with) · ka წინააღმდეგ (in opposition to) · br dirag (in front of; before a background) · et vastu (in opposition to) · es contra (in opposition to) · ru по сравне́нию с (in contrast or comparison with) · io kontre (in competition with) · ru на фо́не (in front of; before a background) · gl contra (close to) · pro contra (in opposition to) · fr contre (in competition with) · nb imot (in a contrary direction to) · da i stedet for (as counterbalance to) · vi chống lại (in opposition to) · nl voor (in front of; before a background) · ko 기대어 (in physical contact with) · sk proti (in a contrary direction to) · nl tegen (in exchange for) · da mod (as protection from) · br ouz (in opposition to) · az qarşı (in a contrary direction to) · ca comparat amb (in contrast or comparison with) · pt contra (in a contrary direction to) · el με (in front of; before a background) · scn contra (in a contrary direction to) · ja ...に対して (in opposition to) · ka გვერდით (close to) · fa علیه (in opposition to) · ps پر ضد (in opposition to) · ga in éadan (in a contrary direction to) · dlm cuantra (in a contrary direction to) · ru про́тив (in opposition to) · km ប្រឆាំងនឹង (in a contrary direction to) · km ដែលយកមកថ្លឹងឲ្យស្មើគ្នានឹង (as counterbalance to) · fa ضد (in a contrary direction to) · fi vastaan (as a charge to) · ka წინააღმდეგ (in competition with) · sh против (in a contrary direction to) · eo apud (close to) · ca enfront de (in front of; before a background) · fi vasten (in opposition to) · ru про́тив (in a contrary direction to) · fr contre (in physical contact with) · nl tegen (in competition with) · la contrā (in opposition to) · ko -와 (in competition with) · be на (in exchange for) · io kontre (in opposition to) · grc ἀντί (in a contrary direction to) · km ប្រឆាំងនឹង (close to) · fi vastaan (as protection from) · fr contre (close to) · hy դեմ (in opposition to) · ka საწინააღმდეგო (in a contrary direction to) · es contra (in physical contact with) · sv mot (in opposition to) · es a (as a charge to) · ko 근처에 (close to) · ast contra (in front of; before a background) · km ដែលជាការការពារពី (as protection from) · ca enfront de (in competition with) · nl tegen (in a contrary direction to) · km ប្រឆាំងនឹង (in physical contact with) · pt perto de (close to) · fi vastaan (in a contrary direction to) · yi געגנט (in front of; before a background) · pl przeciw (in opposition to) · be су́праць (as protection from) · pt contra (in competition with) · de gegen (in physical contact with) · bg срещу (in contrast or comparison with) · ko 맞서 (in competition with) · km សម្រាប់ (in exchange for) · de gegen (in a contrary direction to) · cs proti (as protection from) · uk в обмі́н (in exchange for) · ga i gcoinne (in opposition to) · gl contra (in a contrary direction to) · pl przeciw (in a contrary direction to) · sl proti (in a contrary direction to) · kmr di ʻeleyhê ... da (in opposition to) · da mod (in competition with) · ka წინ (in front of; before a background) · kmr li dijî (in opposition to) · es cerca de (close to) · ast contra (in a contrary direction to) · nv bikʼą́ą́h (in a contrary direction to) · kk қарсы (in opposition to) · ka სანაცვლოდ (in exchange for) · fr contre (in opposition to) · mk наспроти (in contrast or comparison with) · ga i gcoinne (in competition with) · fy tsjin (in opposition to) · pt em relação a (in contrast or comparison with) · es en contra (in competition with) · da imod (in opposition to) · tr karşı (in opposition to) · it contrario (in a contrary direction to) · es en pugna de (in opposition to) · es en contra de (in opposition to) · fi varten (in anticipation of, in preparation for) · es contra (in front of; before a background) · ru напро́тив (close to) · pl pod (in a contrary direction to) · da imod (in a contrary direction to) · bg про́тив (in a contrary direction to) · uk про́ти (in a contrary direction to) · es frente (in front of; before a background) · pt contra (as protection from) · ka საპირისპიროდ (in exchange for) · hy հակառակ (in a contrary direction to) · de gegen (in opposition to) · el κατά (in opposition to) · cs proti (in a contrary direction to) · fi vasten (as protection from) · ga in éadan (in opposition to) · gd an aghaidh (in a contrary direction to) · pl przeciwko (in competition with) · da mod (in opposition to) · ru пе́ред (in front of; before a background) · gd an aghaidh (as protection from) · sa अभि (in a contrary direction to) · mk за (in exchange for) · es contra (as protection from) · ka საწინააღმდეგოდ (close to) · nl voor (in exchange for) · it contro (in opposition to) · km ទៅ (as a charge to) · ka საწინააღმდეგოდ (as protection from) · fi vastaan (in competition with) · nl tegen (in front of; before a background) · pt defronte (in front of; before a background) · cmn 反對 /反对 (in opposition to) · km ប្រឆាំងនឹង (in opposition to) · de wider (in opposition to) · es al opósito de (in opposition to) · be су́праць (in a contrary direction to) · nl tegen (... aan) (close to) · tk garşy (in opposition to) · bg срещу (as counterbalance to) · mk до (close to)