opposition

Noun

Synonyms: resistance oppositeness confrontation opponent opposite enemy foe foeman Opposition

WordNet 3.0

Noun (8)

the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with“he encountered a general feeling of resistance from many citizens”“despite opposition from the newspapers he went ahead”Synonyms: resistance
the relation between opposed entitiesSynonyms: oppositeness
the act of hostile groups opposing each other“the government was not ready for a confrontation with the unions”“the invaders encountered stiff opposition”Synonyms: confrontation
a contestant that you are matched againstSynonyms: opponent opposite
a body of people united in opposing something
a direction opposite to another
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)“a soldier must be prepared to kill his enemies”Synonyms: enemy foe foeman
the major political party opposed to the party in office and prepared to replace it if elected“Her Majesty's loyal opposition”Synonyms: Opposition

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Opposition \Op`po*si"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. oppositio. See Opposite.]

1.The act of opposing; an attempt to check, restrain, or defeat; resistance. [1913 Webster]

The counterpoise of so great an opposition.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Virtue which breaks through all opposition.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.The state of being placed over against; situation so as to front something else. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3.Repugnance; contrariety of sentiment, interest, or purpose; antipathy. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4.That which opposes; an obstacle; specifically, the aggregate of persons or things opposing; hence, in politics and parliamentary practice, the party opposed to the party in power. [1913 Webster]

5.(Astron.) The situation of a heavenly body with respect to another when in the part of the heavens directly opposite to it; especially, the position of a planet or satellite when its longitude differs from that of the sun 180[deg]; -- signified by the symbol ?; as, ? [Jupiter] [Sun], opposition of Jupiter to the sun. [1913 Webster]

6.(Logic) The relation between two propositions when, having the same subject and predicate, they differ in quantity, or in quality, or in both; or between two propositions which have the same matter but a different form. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

OPPOSITION, n. In politics the party that prevents the Government from running amuck by hamstringing it. The King of Ghargaroo, who had been abroad to study the science of government, appointed one hundred of his fattest subjects as members of a parliament to make laws for the collection of revenue. Forty of these he named the Party of Opposition and had his Prime Minister carefully instruct them in their duty of opposing every royal measure. Nevertheless, the first one that was submitted passed unanimously. Greatly displeased, the King vetoed it, informing the Opposition that if they did that again they would pay for their obstinacy with their heads. The entire forty promptly disemboweled themselves. "What shall we do now?" the King asked. "Liberal institutions cannot be maintained without a party of Opposition." "Splendor of the universe," replied the Prime Minister, "it is true these dogs of darkness have no longer their credentials, but all is not lost. Leave the matter to this worm of the dust." So the Minister had the bodies of his Majesty's Opposition embalmed and stuffed with straw, put back into the seats of power and nailed there. Forty votes were recorded against every bill and the nation prospered. But one day a bill imposing a tax on warts was defeated -- the members of the Government party had not been nailed to their seats! This so enraged the King that the Prime Minister was put to death, the parliament was dissolved with a battery of artillery, and government of the people, by the people, for the people perished from Ghargaroo.