AGAINST


Meaning of AGAINST in English

I. ə-ˈgen(t)st, -ˈgin(t)st, -ˈgān(t)st preposition

Etymology: Middle English, alteration of againes, from again

Date: 13th century

1.

a. : in opposition or hostility to

spoke against his enemies

b. : contrary to

against the law

c. : in competition with

racing against each other

d. : as a basis for disapproval of

had nothing against him

2.

a. : directly opposite : facing

she sat down just over against me — Daniel Defoe

b. obsolete : exposed to

3. : compared or contrasted with

profits are up against last year

4.

a. : in preparation or provision for

saving against an uncertain future

b. : as a defense or protection from

a shelter against the cold

5.

a. : in the direction of and into contact with

knocked against the ropes

b. : in contact with

leaning against the wall

6. : in a direction opposite to the motion or course of : counter to

sail against the wind

7.

a. : as a counterbalance to

weighing risk against profit

b. : in exchange for

a lower rate against the dollar

c. : as a charge on

charged against her account

8. : before the background of

viewed against the sky

II. conjunction

Date: 14th century

archaic : in preparation for the time when

throw on another log of wood against father comes home — Charles Dickens

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.