English
antagonist
Antagonist comes from Ancient Greek ἀνταγωνιστής ‘opponent’, from ἀνταγωνίζομαι ‘to antagonize’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- ‘to drive’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eǵ-‘to drive’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂éǵeti‘to be driving’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ágō‘to lead, to guide’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓́γωắgō‘to lead’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγών‘a contest, competition’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγωνίζομαι‘contend for a prize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀνταγωνίζομαιantagōnízomai‘to antagonize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀνταγωνιστήςantagōnistḗs‘opponent’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEantagonista
- Englishearliest quotation 1667antagonist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eǵ-‘to drive’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂éǵeti‘to be driving’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ágō‘to lead, to guide’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓́γωắgō‘to lead’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγών‘a contest, competition’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀγωνίζομαι‘contend for a prize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀνταγωνίζομαιantagōnízomai‘to antagonize’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀνταγωνιστήςantagōnistḗs‘opponent’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEantagonista
- Englishearliest quotation 1667antagonist
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book IX: “Antagonist of Heav’ns Almightie King”.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- ‘to drive’
suggest, reaction, register, actively, essay, transaction, acre, gesture, radioactive, inactive, digest, congestion, retroactive, belligerent, agrarian, unambiguous, hyperactivity, progesterone, ingestion, ingest, gestation, reagent, ambiguously, agitate, samaj, agger, gerund, gestion, 132 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti ‘to be driving’
act, action, active, activity, actual, agency, actor, agent, agenda, activate, ambiguous, squat, ambiguity, assay, agile, agility, radium, actuator, agitation, axiomatic, cogent, actuation, inexact, actuate, exigent, 115 more
through Proto-Hellenic *ágō ‘to lead, to guide’
strategy, axiom, stratagem, glucagon, 26 more
through Ancient Greek ἀγών ‘a contest, competition’
through Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι ‘contend for a prize’
Today it means
noun An opponent or enemy.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- / antagonist