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, .
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.
© Webster 1913. | 
