English
opposition
Opposition comes from Old French oposicion, from Late Latin oppositiō, from oppōnō ‘to set against’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- ‘to cultivate’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tḱey-‘to cultivate’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tḱinétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sinō‘to put in place’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*pozinōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpōnō‘to place’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEoppōnō‘to set against’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEoppositiō‘opposing’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400oposicion
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500opposicioun‘opposition’
- Englishearliest quotation 2008opposition
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tḱey-‘to cultivate’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tḱinétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sinō‘to put in place’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*pozinōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpōnō‘to place’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEoppōnō‘to set against’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEoppositiō‘opposing’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400oposicion
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500opposicioun‘opposition’
- Englishearliest quotation 2008opposition
Earliest quotation: 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect: “Terra Firma is an Alliance political party formed after…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- ‘to cultivate’
homeless, suppose, compound, hamlet, impose, bohemian, homely, hame, 50 more
through Proto-Indo-European *tḱinéti
prepositional, apposite, 39 more
through Proto-Italic *sinō ‘to put in place’
site, situation, posture, situate, compostela, positivism, preposition, situs, supposition, 41 more
through Proto-Italic *pozinō
compost, impost, suppository, compositor, presupposition, 25 more
through Latin pōnō ‘to place’
post, purpose, positive, expose, propose, composition, dispose, compose, consolation, repository, proposition, proponent, exposition, exponent, disposition, deposition, expound, imposition, posit, pone, presuppose, 49 more
through Latin oppōnō ‘to oppose, object’
Today it means
noun The action of opposing or of being in conflict.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- / opposition