Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OP'PI-LA-TIVE, a. [Fr. oppilatif.]

Obstructive. Sherwood.

OP-PLE'TED, a. [L. oppletus.]

Filled; crowded. [Not in use.]

OP-PONE, v.t. [L. oppono; ob and pono, to put.]

To oppose. [Not used.] B. Johnson.

OP-PO'NEN-CY, n. [See Opponent.]

The opening of an academical disputation; the proposition of objections to a tenet; an exercise for a degree. [I believe not used in America.] Todd.

OP-PO'NENT, a. [L. opponens, oppono; ob and pono, to set, put or lay, that is, to thrust against; Heb. Syr. Ch. and Ar. בנה, to build, that is, to set, to found, L. fundo.]

That opposes; opposite; adverse. Prior.

OP-PO'NENT, n.

One that opposes; particularly, one that opposes in controversy, disputation or argument. It is sometimes applied to the person that begins a dispute by raising objections to a tenet or doctrine, and is correlative to defendant or respondent. In common usage, however, it is applicable to either party in a controversy, denoting any person who opposes another or his cause. Opponent may sometimes be used for adversary, and for antagonist, but not with strict propriety, as the word does not necessarily imply enmity nor bodily strife. Nor is it well used in the sense of rival or competitor.

OP-POR-TUNE, a. [L. opportunus; ob and porto, to bear or bring; probably from the root of fero or porto, to bear. The sense of the verb opporto, would be to bring to or upon. See Import, Importune. In this and all words of like signification, the primary sense is to fall, come or bring to. See Luck, Fortune, Season.]

Properly, having come or being present at a proper time; hence, seasonable; timely; well timed. It agrees with seasonable rather than with convenient, though the sense of the latter may be included in it. Perhaps in view / Of those right confines, whence with neighboring arms, / And opportune excursion, we may chance / Re-enter heaven. Milton.

OP-POR-TUNE-LY, adv.

Seasonably; at a time favorable for the purpose. It has been applied to place, as well as to time, but its proper application is to time, and hence it accords with seasonably, rather than with conveniently.

OP-POR-TUNE-NESS, n.

In seasonable time.

OP-POR-TU'NITY, n. [L. opportunitas.]

1. Fit or convenient time; a time favorable for the purpose; suitable time combined with other favorable circumstances. Suitableness of time is the predominant signification, but it includes generally circumstances of place and other conveniences adapted to the end desired. A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. Bacon. I had an opportunity to see the cloud descend. Brown. Neglect no opportunity of doing good. Atterbury.
2. Convenient means. I had an opportunity of sending the letter, or no opportunity to send it. Opportunities rarely occur or frequently offer.

OP-POS-A-BLE, a.

That may or can be opposed.

OP-PO'SAL, n. [s as z.]

Opposition. [Not used.] Herbert.

OP-POSE, v.i. [s as z.]

1. To act adversely; with against; as, a servant opposed against the act. [Not used.] – Shak.
2. To object or act against in controversy. – Johnson.

OP-POSE, v.t. [s as z. Fr. opposer; ob and poser, to set; L. oppono, opposui. It is doubtful whether Fr. poser, and the preterit and participle passive of the Latin verb belong to pono. The change of n into s is unusual. Two different verbs may be used, as in L. fero, tuli. See Pose.]

1. To set against; to put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or countervail, and thus to hinder, defeat, destroy or prevent effect; as, to oppose one argument to another. I may without presumption oppose my single opinion to his. Locke.
2. To act against; to resist, either by physical means, by arguments or other means. The army opposed the progress of the enemy, but without success. Several members of the house strenuously opposed the bill, but it passed.
3. To check; to resist effectually. The army was not able to oppose the progress of the enemy.
4. To place in front; to set opposite. – Shak.
5. To act against, as a competitor.

OP-POS-ED, pp.

1. Set in opposition; resisted.
2. adj. Being in opposition in principle or in act; adverse. Certain characters were formerly apposed to it. – Federalist, Jay.

OP-POSE-LESS, a.

Not to be opposed; irresistible. [Not in use.] – Shak.

OP-POS-ER, n.

1. One that opposes; an opponent in party, in principle, in controversy or argument. We speak of the opposers of public measures; the opposers of ecclesiastical discipline; an opposer of Christianity or of orthodoxy.
2. One who acts in opposition; one who resists; as, an opposer of law or of the execution of law.
3. An antagonist; an adversary; an enemy; a rival.

OP-POS-ING, ppr.

Acting against; resisting.

OP'PO-SITE, a. [Fr. from L. oppositus.]

1. Standing or situated in front; facing; as, an edifice opposite to the Exchange. Brooklyn lies opposite to New York, or on the opposite side of the river.
2. Adverse; repugnant. Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pleasure opposite to that designed in an epic poem. – Dryden.
3. Contrary; as, words of opposite significations; opposite terms. The medicine had an effect opposite to what was expected.

OP'PO-SITE, n.

1. An opponent; an adversary; an enemy; an antagonist. – Shak. Dryden.
2. That which is opposed or contrary.

OP'PO-SITE-LY, adv.

1. In front; in a situation to face each other. – Grew.
2. Adversely; against each other. Winds from all quarters oppositely blow. – May.

OP'PO-SITE-NESS, n.

The state of being opposite or contrary.

OP-POS-I-TI-FO'LI-OUS, a. [L. oppositus and folium, a leaf.]

In botany, opposite to the leaf; as, an oppositfolious peduncle. Lee.

OP-PO-SI'TION, n. [L. oppositio.]

1. Situation so as to front something else; a standing over against; as, the opposition of two mountains or buildings.
2. The act of opposing; attempt to check, restrain or defeat. He makes opposition to the measure; the bill passed without opposition. Will any opposition be made to the suit, to the claim or demand?
3. Obstacle. The river meets with no opposition in its course to the ocean.
4. Resistance; as, the opposition of enemies. Virtue will break through all opposition.
5. Contrariety; repugnance in principle; as, the opposition of the heart to the laws of God.
6. Contrariety of interests, measures or designs. The two parties are in opposition to each other.
7. Contrariety or diversity of meaning; as, one term used in opposition to another.
8. Contradiction; inconsistency. Locke.
9. The collective body of opposers; in England, the party in Parliament which opposes the ministry; in America, the party that opposes the existing administration.
10. In astronomy, the situation of two heavenly bodies, when distant from each other 180 degrees.

OP-PO-SI'TION-IST, n.

One that belongs to the party opposing the administration.