opponere

Opponere is a Latin verb meaning to place against, to oppose, or to set in opposition to something. It can denote a literal placing against another object, as well as a figurative opposition such as presenting a counter-argument, an objection, or resistance to a proposal. In classical and later Latin texts, oppōnere is used in both physical and rhetorical or legal senses.

Etymology and form: the word is built from the prefix ob- (often assimilated to op- before p) and ponere (to place), yielding oppōnere, literally “to place against.” It belongs to the third conjugation. In ordinary usage, it follows regular -ere verb patterns: oppōnō, oppōnis, oppōnit, oppōnimus, oppōnitis, oppōnunt in the present indicative; imperf. oppōnēbam; fut. oppōnām (and related forms in later tenses). The verb also has a present participle oppōnēns and a perfect passive participle oppositus (or oppositus), used in various compound constructions.

Usage: oppōnere governs a direct object for the thing opposed and can be combined with contra or adversus to stress opposition. It appears in rhetoric, law, and general prose to denote countering an argument, resisting a proposal, or placing something in opposition to another thing.

Derivatives and cognates: the verb gives rise to Latin participles such as oppōnēns (opposing) and oppositus/oppositus (set against). In English, derivatives include oppose, opponent, opposition, and opposite, all ultimately tracing to oppōnere.

See also: opposition, opposing in rhetoric.