The virtuous man meets with more opposites and opponents than any
other.
Landor.
Op"po*site*ly, adv. In a situation to face each other; in an opposite
manner or direction; adversely.
Winds from all quarters oppositely blow.
May.
Op"po*site*ness, n. The quality or state of being opposite.
Op*pos`i*ti*fo"li*ous (?), a. [See Opposite, Folious.] (Bot.) Placed at
the same node with a leaf, but separated from it by the whole diameter
of the stem; as, an oppositifolious peduncle.
Op`po*si"tion (?), n. [F., fr. L. oppositio. See Opposite.] 1. The act
of opposing; an attempt to check, restrain, or defeat; resistance.
The counterpoise of so great an opposition.
Shak.
Virtue which breaks through all opposition.
Milton.
2. The state of being placed over against; situation so as to front
something else. Milton.
3. Repugnance; contrariety of sentiment, interest, or purpose;
antipathy. Shak.
4. That which opposes; an obstacle; specifically, the aggregate of
persons or things opposing; hence, in politics and parliamentary
practice, the party opposed to the party in power.
5. (Astron.) The situation of a heavenly body with respect to another
when in the part of the heavens directly opposite to it; especially,
the position of a planet or satellite when its longitude differs from
that of the sun 180°; - - signified by the symbol &?;; as, &?; ,
opposition of Jupiter to the sun.
6. (Logic) The relation between two propositions when, having the same
subject and predicate, they differ in quantity, or in quality, or in
both; or between two propositions which have the same matter but a
different form.
Op`po*si"tion*ist, n. One who belongs to the opposition party. Praed.
Op*pos`i*ti*pet"al*ous (?), a. [See Opposite, and Petal.] (Bot.) Placed
in front of a petal.
Op*pos`i*ti*sep"al*ous (?), a. [See Opposite, and Sepal.] (Bot.) Placed
in front of a sepal.
Op*pos`i*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. oppositif. See Opposite.] Capable of
being put in opposition. Bp. Hall.
Op*press" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Oppressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Oppressing.] [F. oppresser, LL. oppressare, fr. L. oppressus, p. p. of
opprimere; ob (see Ob- ) + premere to press. See Press.] 1. To impose
excessive burdens upon; to overload; hence, to treat with unjust rigor
or with cruelty. Wyclif.
For thee, oppressèd king, am I cast down.
Shak.
Behold the kings of the earth; how they oppress Thy chosen !
Milton.