n. The condition or quality of being opposable. [ 1913 Webster ]

In no savage have I ever seen the slightest approach to opposability of the great toe, which is the essential distinguishing feature of apes. A. R. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Capable of being opposed or resisted. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being placed opposite something else; as, the thumb is opposable to the forefinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Opposition. [ R. ] Sir T. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be set opposite. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To act adversely or in opposition; -- with against or to; as, a servant opposed against the act. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make objection or opposition in controversy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Opposed p. pr. & vb. n. Opposing. ] [ F. opposer. See Ob-, Pose, and cf.2d Appose, Puzzle, n. Cf.L. opponere, oppositum. ] 1. To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her grace sat down . . .
In a rich chair of state; opposing freely
The beauty of her person to the people. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or countervail; to set against; to offer antagonistically. [ 1913 Webster ]

I may . . . oppose my single opinion to his. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand; as, to oppose the king in battle; to oppose a bill in Congress. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To compete with; to strive against; as, to oppose a rival for a prize. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am . . . too weak
To oppose your cunning. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To combat; withstand; contradict; deny; gainsay; oppugn; contravene; check; obstruct. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not to be effectually opposed; irresistible. [ Obs. ] “Your great opposeless wills.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist; an adversary. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw> adj. 1. characterized by active opposition; as, two bitterly opposing schools of thought.
Syn. -- antagonistic, antipathetic, antipathetical, opponent. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. acting in opposition to; as, the opposing sector of the same muscle group. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The opposites of this day's strife. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is opposed or contrary in character or meaning; as, sweetness and its opposite; up is the opposite of down. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

The virtuous man meets with more opposites and opponents than any other. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

polar opposite that which is conspicuously different in most important respects. [ PJC ]

a. [ F., fr. L. oppositus, p. p. of opponere. See Opponent. ] 1. Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; -- often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange; the concert hall and the state theater stood opposite each other on the plaza. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Situated on the other end of an imaginary line passing through or near the middle of an intervening space or object; -- of one object with respect to another; as, the office is on the opposite side of town; -- also used both to describe two objects with respect to each other; as, the stores were on opposite ends of the mall. [ PJC ]

3. Applied to the other of two things which are entirely different; other; as, the opposite sex; the opposite extreme; antonyms have opposite meanings. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

4. Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pleasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite, significations. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Bot.) (a) Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node. (b) Placed directly in front of another part or organ, as a stamen which stands before a petal. [ 1913 Webster ]