- Against
- Against A*gainst" (?; 277), prep. [OE. agens, ageynes, AS.
ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See
{Again}.]
1. Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the
mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over.
[1913 Webster]
Jacob saw the angels of God come against him. --Tyndale. [1913 Webster]
2. From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof. [1913 Webster]
3. In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time. [1913 Webster]
The gate would have been shut against her. --Fielding. [1913 Webster]
An argument against the use of steam. --Tyndale. [1913 Webster]
4. By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when. [Archaic or Dial.] [1913 Webster]
Urijah the priest made it, against King Ahaz came from Damascus. --2 Kings xvi. 11. [1913 Webster]
{Against the sun}, in a direction contrary to that in which the sun appears to move. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.