# opposite
## English
### Alternative forms

* opposit (archaic)

### Etymology

From Old French oposite, from Latin oppositus, perfect passive participle of oppōnō (“I oppose”). Compare oppose.

### Pronunciation

* (UK) IPA: /ˈɒpəzɪt/, /ˈɒpəsɪt/
* (US) IPA: /ˈɑp(ə)sɪt/, /ˈɑpəzɪt/
* (Canada) IPA: /ˈɒpəsɪt/, /ˈɒpəzɪt/
* Audio (US):(file)

### Adjective

opposite (not comparable)
* Located directly across from something else, or from each other.
    She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.
* (botany) Of leaves and flowers, positioned directly across from each other on a stem.
* Facing in the other direction.
    They were moving in opposite directions.
* Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.
    He is attracted to the opposite sex.
* Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
** 1697, Virgil, “Dedication”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pieasure opposite to that which is designed in an epick poem.
** 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:, Book III
    Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite, significations.

#### Derived terms

* on opposite sides of the barricades
* opposite angle
* opposite number
* opposite sex
* opposite side

#### Translations
### Noun

opposite (plural opposites)
* Something opposite or contrary to something else.
* A person or thing that is entirely different from or the reverse of someone or something else; used to show contrast between two people or two things.
    She is the opposite of her ex-boyfriend who abused her both physically and verbally nearly every day for five years. She now works as an advocate and supportive listener for others who have endured abusive relationships.
* An opponent.
* An antonym.
    "Up" is the opposite of "down".
* (mathematics) An additive inverse.

#### Derived terms

* opposites attract
* polar opposite

#### Translations
### Adverb

opposite (not comparable)
* In an opposite position.
    I was on my seat and she stood opposite.
    Where's the bus station? -Over there, just opposite.

#### Translations
### Preposition

opposite
* Facing, or across from.
    He lives opposite the pub.
** 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 01:It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. […]. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.
* In a complementary role to.
    He played opposite Marilyn Monroe.
* (television) On another channel at the same time.
    The game show Just Men! aired opposite The Young and the Restless on CBS.

#### Translations
### See also

* apposite

## Latin
### Adjective

opposite
* vocative masculine singular of oppositus

### References

* opposite in Ramminger, Johann (2016 July 16 (last accessed)) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎, pre-publication website, 2005-2016

## Middle French
### Adjective

opposite m or f (plural opposites)
* opposite (located directly across from something else, or from each other)

### Noun

opposite f (plural opposites)
* opposite side

### References

* Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX$^e$ au XV$^e$ siècle (1881) (opposeur)