preposition Etymology: Middle English, against, from, ~, from Old English; akin to Old English ~er against, Old High German widar against, back, Sanskrit vi apart Date: before 12th century 1. in opposition to ; against , so as to be separated or detached from , 2. a. — used as a function word to indicate a participant in an action, transaction, or arrangement b. — used as a function word to indicate the object of attention, behavior, or feeling in respect to ; so far as concerns , d. — used to indicate the object of an adverbial expression of imperative force over , on , in the performance, operation, or use of , 3. a. — used as a function word to indicate the object of a statement of comparison or equality b. — used as a function word to express agreement or sympathy on the side of ; for , as well as , 4. a. — used as a function word to indicate combination, accompaniment, presence, or addition inclusive of , 5. in the judgment or estimation of , in or according to the experience or practice of , 6. a. — used as a function word to indicate the means, cause, agent, or instrumentality
by the direct act of, 7. a. — used as a function word to indicate manner of action b. — used as a function word to indicate an attendant fact or circumstance c. — used as a function word to indicate a result attendant on a specified action 8. a. in possession of ; having , in the possession or care of , characterized or distinguished by , 9. a. — used as a function word to indicate a close association in time in proportion to , 10. in spite of ; not~standing , except for , in the direction of