oppose

Where does the word "oppose" come from? It comes from Latin ob ponere, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Oppose’s story begins in Latin: ob ponere meant “to put against.” To put against, from ob- (against) and ponere (to place). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as opposer. Carried into French for standing against something. It reached English by 1400s as oppose. Settled as the English word for actively disagreeing with or resisting something. Today, oppose means to actively disagree with, resist, or take a stand against something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ob ponere "to put against", to put against, from ob- (against) and ponere (to place).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval opposer "to stand against something", carried into French for standing against something.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s oppose "to actively disagree with or resist something", settled as the English word for actively disagreeing with or resisting something.