opposev.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman opposer, oposer to question, to oppose, object, and Middle French, French opposer to object (12th cent. in Old French as oposer ), to set oneself in opposition, resist (c1224), to set something against or opposite (1321), to place as an obstacle (1580) < classical Latin ob- ob- prefix + Old French, Middle French, French poser pose v.¹, after classical Latin oppōnere to set against (see oppone v.; compare compose v., depose v., etc.). With branch I., compare post-classical Latin opponere to dispute (frequently c1282–1592 in British sources), to appose, examine (a1410 in a British source). These were the chief senses of oppose in Middle English, varying with appose v.¹, which later became the established form in these senses. Branch II., which is rare in English before the late 16th cent., ultimately represents senses of classical Latin oppōnere : see oppone v. Before 1600 oppone v. was chiefly used in these senses, but subsequently oppose became commoner, as also with compose, depose, dispose, expose, and other words taken to be representatives of classical Latin pōnere. Compare Catalan oposar (14th cent.), Old Occitan opausar.