| 释义 |
against, prep. (adv.), conj.|əˈgɛnst, əˈgeɪnst|
Forms: South. 2 aȝænes, aȝenes, 2–3 aȝeines, 3–5 aȝeynes, aȝaines, 4–5 aȝeins, ayenis, ayeins, ayans, 4–5 aȝens, ayens; Midl. 3–4 (east) agenes, 4–5 ageynes, ageyns, agens, 5 ageins, agains, (west) aȝayns, -us, agaynus; North. 4 ogaynes, ogaines, agaynes, 4–5 agayns, agaynys, 5 aganys, Sc. 5–6 agains, aganis, agans. Also with parasitic -t, South. 4–5 aȝenst, 5 aȝeynst, 5–6 ayenst; Midl. 5–6 ageynst(e, agenst(e, agaynst(e, againste, 6– against.
[Formed on aȝen, ayen, again, by genitive ending -es, after the kindred tó-ᵹeánes, to-yenes in which a genitive, governed by tó, is found in the oldest English: see to-gains. Late in the 14th c., after the -es had ceased to be syllabic, the final -ens, -ains developed in the south a parasitic -t as in amongs-t, betwix-t, amids-t, probably confused with superlatives in -st, and c 1525 this became universal in literary English; aganis, agains, sinking into a dialectal northern form. The earlier forms of againes present all the dialectal variations found in again. The poets occasionally aphetize it to 'gainst. Essentially a prep. (very rarely an adverb in 15th c.); but becoming by ellipsis a conj., or conjunctive adverb.]
A. I. Of position.
1. a. Directly opposite; facing, in front of, in full view of. Now generally over against.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 7 Þe castel þe wes aȝeines drih[t]nes twa leornikenehtes. 1366Mandeville i. 9 The tother Hond he lifteth up aȝenst the Est. c1440Lonelich Graal II. 199 They lokeden aȝens a mowntaygne. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 193/4 Saynt Marcial helde up his burdon ayenst the fyre. 1551Robinson tr. More's Utopia 93 The men sitte upon the bench next the wall and the women againste them on the other side of the table. 1551Recorde Pathw. Knowl. ii. xi, In euery triangle, the greattest side lieth against the greattest angle. 1604Dekker King's Entert. (1873) I. 299 In a direct line against them stoode the three Howres. 1611Bible Matt. xxi. 2 Go into the village over against you. Ibid. xxvii. 61 Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting ouer against the sepulchre. 1695Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 487 The Commissioners of the Admiralty satt in the new office against Scotland Yard. 1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 193 These Semi-circles must be made so exactly against each other that when..clapt close together, the Semi-circles on both the Cheeks shall become a perfect round hole. 1741Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 143 And so handed me to the coach..and sat backwards over against me.
†b. Exposed to (light, cold, etc.). Obs.
1490Caxton Eneydos xxi. 77 Theire hyghe saylles..alle spred abrode ayenst the wyndes. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. iii. ii, Turrettes fayre and hye, Which against Phebus shone so marveylously. 1595Shakes. John v. iv. 25 As a forme of waxe Resolueth from his figure 'gainst the fire. c1600― Sonn. lxxiii, Those boughes which shake against the could. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 66 While Mountain Snows dissolve against the Sun. 1752Young Brothers ii. i. (1757) II. 228 In polish'd armour, shine against the sun.
†2. In the sight of, in presence of; with (L. apud). Obs.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 79 Þa þe he heuede scome aȝeines his scuppende. 1387Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. VII. 333 Pope Alisaundre aroos worschipfulliche aȝenst hym. Ibid. VII. 99 He schulde be to hem trewe lorde aȝenst God and þe world. 1483Caxton G. de la Tour k ij, Humble themself the one ageynst the other. a1520Myrroure of Our Ladye 146 Ageynste the Lorde ys mercy and plentyous redempcyon.
3. fig. Towards, with respect to, in regard to.
1387Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. VI. 375 Merciable aȝenst pore men. 1481Earl of Worcester Tully on Friendship iv. 10 That our benyvolence ayenst our frendes may answere evenly to the benyvolence which they bere ayenst us. 1506Ord. Crysten Men (W. de Worde) i. v. 48 Charyte by some approbacyon is ayenst y⊇ fader. Fayth is ayenst the sone. Hope is ayenst the holy goost. 1557Apprenticeship Indenture in Norf. Antiq. Misc. (1880) II. 14 He shall behave himselfe gently ageynst his seyde Master. 1871W. Markby Elem. Law §155 The legal rights of subjects as against each other and the constitutional rights of subjects against the government.
4. More generally: Towards the front of, near, adjoining. Also fig. Still dial. e.g. ‘I met him against the pond.’
1531Elyot Governour (1836) 156 The most damnable vice, and most against injustice..is Ingratitude. 1669Bunyan Holy Citie 128 Against this Tophet..was the broad wall of the City. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 66 Three of their ships lay against the walls.
II. Of motion towards.
†5.
a. In a direction facing; towards, forward to, to meet. Obs.
c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 611 Þe good mon gos hem agayneȝ. c1386Chaucer Clerk's T. 855 Agayns [v.r. A-geyn, a-ȝein(e, aȝeinst] his doghter hastiliche goth he. c1400Chester Pl. 59 Againste Abraham will I gone worshippffullye and that anon. c1420Chron. Vilod. 748 Þuse relekes weron comyng, with procession ageynes hem. a1520Myrroure of Our Ladye 258 All the people of the cyte came ageynste hym wyth ioye and wyth praysynge. 1535Coverdale Gen. xxiv. 65 What man is this that commeth agaynst us in the felde? 1566Udall Royster Doyster iii. iii. (Arb.) 43 As fast as I could runne sir in poste against you. 1634Malory's Arthur (1816) I. 179 Against whom came queen Guenever, and met with him, and made great joy of his coming.
†b. In reception of, in welcome of. Obs.
c1430Hymns to Virg. &c. (1867) 52 Opene þe ȝatis aȝens me!
III. Of motion into contact; pressure upon.
6. Toward and into contact with; into direct collision with. Also loosely to run against, to meet accidentally.
1382Wyclif Acts. ix. 5 It is hard to thee for to kyke aȝens the pricke. 1480Robert the Devyll 10 Robert threw his boke ayenst the wall. 1601Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. iv. 60 Till I breake my shins against it. 1610― Temp. i. i. 9 Thy cry did knock against my very heart. 1711Steele Spect. No. 96 ⁋2 Left to sob and beat my Head against the Wall at my Leisure. 1805Scott Last Minstr. i. xii, The roar of Teviot's tide, That chafes against the scaur's red side. 1820Keats St. Agnes xxxvi, Pattering the sharp sleet Against the window-panes. a1884Mod. The ship was dashed against the pier-head. I jostled against him in the crowd. Guess whom I ran against in London the other day?
7. Hence of force or pressure resisted, with push, press, lean, hang, stand, lie, etc.: Supported by, in contact with.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. v. 43 Leane thine aged back against mine Arme. 1608― Per. v. i. 51 The leafy shelter that abuts against The islands side. 1611― Wint. T. iv. iv. 818 Then..shall he be set against a Brick-wall. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. (1806) xvi. 81 The picture..leaned in a most mortifying manner against the kitchen wall. 1815Byron Lara i. xxi, He lean'd against the lofty pillar nigh. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. i, He pressed his hands against his forehead. 1859Reeve Brittany 236 The Chateau..is a squat, heavy structure, much dilapidated and built against. 1871Black Dau. Heth xxxiv. 313 Ere she knew, his arms were around her, and she was close against his bosom. a1884Mod. Older strata tilted against the erupted rocks. A ladder standing against a house.
8. In optical contact with something behind, projected on the visible surface of, having as background.
1805Southey Madoc in Azt. xxiv. Wks. V. 360 Far visible Against the clear blue sky. 1864D. Mitchell Seven Stories 211 The trees..darkly drawn against a bright orange sky. 1869Phillips Vesuv. iv. 124 The outline of the cone was plain against the illuminated vaporous atmosphere. a1884Mod. The pictures stand out better against the dark wall.
IV. Of motion or action in opposition to.
9. a. In the opposite direction to the course of anything, counter to. Implying adverse motion or effort.
1388Wyclif Acts xxvii. 15 Whanne the schip was rauyschid, and myȝte not enforse aȝens the wynde [1382 into the wynde]. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, i. iv. 20, I haue seene a Swan With bootlesse labour swimme against the Tyde. 1611Cotgr., Prendre le vent, To goe up, or against the wind. 1653Urquhart Rabelais i. xxiii, He ran furiously vp against a hill. 1726Thomson Winter 180 And, often falling, climbs against the blast. 1805Foster Ess. i. vi. 77 To swim against a torrent, to ascend against a cataract. 1879Tennyson Lover's T. 89 Slow-moving, as a wave against the wind.
b. Hence against the hair (Fr. à contrepoil), against the grain: opposed to the natural bent.
1621Bp. R. Montagu Diatribe 168 This translation cannot passe by you, being somewhat against the haire for you. 1875H. Rogers Superh. Orig. Bible i. (ed. 3) 33 A system of ethics so much against the grain as that of the Gospel.
10. Opposed in tendency or character, contrary to; not in conformity with.
c1250Gen. & Exod. 538 Hun-wreste plaȝe..a-ȝenes laȝe. c1375Lay-Folks Mass-Bk. B. 350, I haue done a-gaynes þi wille synnes mony. c1386Chaucer Frankl. T. 617 It is agayns [v.r. a geyn, aȝein(e, aȝeinst] the proces of nature. 1387Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. I. 131 Egipte aȝenst kynde of oþer londes haþ plente of corn. c1400Rom. Rose 3154 Bothe ageyns resoun and right. c1440Gesta Rom. 4 The flesch desirith thing þat is aȝenst þe spirite, And þe spirit desirith thing aȝenst þe flesch. 1530Palsgr. 570/1, I go against nature, or do a thynge contrarye to nature. It is a harde thyng to make a foxe do agaynst nature. 1668Culpeper & Cole tr. Barthol. Anat. i. xxiii. 57 The Opinion of..other late Anatomists, does against all former Authority thus determine. 1676Hobbes Iliad i. 329 She with them went, though much against her heart. 1708Swift Pred. for 1708 Wks. 1755 II. i. 151 May, against common conjectures, will be no very busy month. 1763Burke in Corr. (1844) I. 48 It is against my general notions to trust to writing. 1810Coleridge Friend (1865) 122 No power on earth can oblige me to act against my conscience. 1843Macaulay in Trevelyan Life II. ix. 128 It goes against my feelings to censure any woman.
11. Towards with hostile intent; to meet in hostility; in hostile encounter with. arch.
1250Layamon 22476 [He] wende aȝenest him anon [1205 toȝeines]. c1314Guy Warw. 28 Ogaines Sir Gii ther com Gaier. 1388Wyclif Luke xiv. 31 If he may with ten thousynde go aȝens hym that cometh aȝens hym with twenti thousynde. c1400Destr. Troy xxi. 8561 But Troiell full tydely turnyt hom agaynes. c1420Avow. Arth. xiv. (1842) 64 A-ȝaynus the fynde for to fare. 1483Invent. Cross in Leg. Rood 159 He wente in batayle ayenst them of perse. 1513Douglas æneis vi. xv. 80 Quhidder so aganist him he went on fete, Or zit on horsbak. 1611Bible Luke xiv. 31 To meete him that commeth against him with twentie thousand.
12. a. Hence, gen. In hostility or active opposition to, with fight, speak, act, vote, contend, set, pit, be, etc.
a1154O.E. Chron. an. 1135 Aᵹenes him risen sona þa rice men þe wæron swikes. c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 1711 Bot ay hatȝ hofen þy hert agaynes þe hyȝe dryȝtyn. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 4144 Þat mykel dus ogayns Goddes lawe. 1375Barbour Bruce i. 573 That brwyss, that presumyt swa Aganys him to brawle or ryss. 1475Bk. Noblesse (1860) 8 To meove no werre ayenst no cristen man, but if he had grevously done ayenst him. 1533More [title] A Letter impugnynge the erronyouse wrytyng of John Fryth, against the blessed Sacrament of the Aultare. 1556Lauder Tractate 236 Speking aganis godds wourd of grace. 1611Bible Gen. xvi. 12 His hand will be against euery man, and euery mans hand against him. ― Ps. xxxv. 1 Fight against them that fight against me. 1663Butler Hudibr. i. iii. 70 But what could single Valour do Against so numerous a Foe? 1679Dryden, etc. Satire 85 First, let's behold the merriest man alive Against his careless genius vainly strive. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 205 The whole Cavalier gentry were against him. Ibid. II. 37 The members who had voted against the court were dismissed. 1877W. Lytteil Landm. i. i. 18 The very men who made war against the pirates.
b. Hence, expressing the adverse bearing of many verbs and nouns of action; as to legislate, protest, argue, testify; offend, sin; cry out, rage, inveigh, exclaim: a law, proclamation, declaration, protest, argument, objection, resolution, action, proceeding, accusation, complaint, evidence; sin, offence; hostility, outcry, feeling, prejudice, rage, anger, animosity, bitterness, grudge, etc.
c1250Gen. & Exod. 2544 King amonaphis, Agenes ðis folc hatel is. 1580North Plutarch (1676) 6 Then the wrath of the gods would cease against them. 1602Shakes. Ham. i. ii. 102 'Tis a fault to heaven, A fault against the dead, a fault to nature. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. i. i. (1651) 252 Laurentius excepts against them. 1630Prynne Anti-Armin. 143 The Pelagians..obiect against these Conclusions. 1689Selden Table Talk (1847) 225 The Law against Witches does not prove there be any. 1756Burke Vind. Nat. Soc. Wks. I. 34 Arguments against artificial society. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. (1806) iv. 19 My lectures against pride. 1774Bryant Mythol. II. 426 Complaint is made against the apostate Tribes. 1808Scott Marm. ii. vii, Charged 'gainst those who lay Prison'd in Cuthbert's islet gray. 1820Keats St. Agnes x, Whose very dogs would execrations howl Against his lineage. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 218 The suffering..people raged fiercely against the government. Ibid. I. 265 Proceedings were instituted against the Corporation. Ibid. II. 82 The Commons..had protested against it. Ibid. II. 220 Legal evidence against him. Ibid. III. 13 One of the chief accusations..brought against Charles the Second. Ibid. III. 212 James had, in his speech..declared against the Act of Settlement. 1854Thackeray Newcomes I. xxi. 197 That common outcry against thankless children.
c. to be against: to be opposed, unfavourable; the opposite of for, in favour of. Esp. in phr. against the government, opposed to the established view, rulers, etc. (cf. agin prep.).
1722Wollaston Relig. Nat. v. (1738) 84 There are infinite chances against the happening of it, or odds that it will not happen. 1742Richardson Pamela III. 47, I am not against shewing to him all I write. 1818Hallam Middle Ages (1841) I. 330 Experience..told more and more against the ordinary militia. 1850W. Irving Goldsm. xiv. 174 His..awkward manners were against him. 1860Heavysege Filippo 114 Will it weigh The fors and the againsts in nicest scale? 1934H. G. Wells Exper. Autobiogr. II. viii. 604 The Bastables are an anarchistic lot. Her soul was against the government all the time. 1962Sunday Express 25 Feb. 6/5 Milton and Dante were usually against the Government.
d. In reference to competition: To run against, compete against, play a match, etc. against.
1833Brewster Nat. Magic x. 243 He drew against horses, and raised enormous weights. 1854Dickens Hard T. (Tauchn.) 62 A population of babies who had been walking against time towards the infinite world. 1868― Mugby Junction (Tauchn.) 275, I always felt as if I was riding a race against time.
13. a. In resistance to, in defence or protection from.
a1154O.E. Chron. an. 1137 æuric rice man his castles makede and aᵹænes him heolden. c1230Ancren Riwle 14 Of fleschliche vondunges & of gostliche..& kunfort aȝeines ham. 1430Lydg. Chichevache in Dodsley O.P. XII. 386 Suche as can have no pacience, Ageyns yowre wyfes violence. 1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 9 Remedies ayenst sikenesse. 1561Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 14 a, A confection to holde in the mouth agaynste hoorsenesse. 1578Scot. Poems of 16th c. II. 133 Send us support and comforting Agains our fais. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. ii. 73, I am proof against their enmitie. 1600Hakluyt Voy. (1810) III. 166 Against the colde they clothe themselves in beastes skinnes. 1667Milton P.L. viii. 531 Here only weak Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance. 1749Fielding Tom Jones i. ix, The gate would have been shut against her. 1765Tucker Lt. of Nat. (R.) To stop one's ears against whatever can be said in opposition to them. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. (1806) xxi. 128 Wisdom makes but a slow defence against trouble. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 178 It had long protected the Celts against the aggressions of the kings of Wessex.
b. Hence, Of dangers feared: To caution against, warn, etc. against.
1682Dryden Medal, Ep. to Whigs, To preserve you against Monarchy. 1710Addison Tatler No. 240 ⁋11 Pill which (as he told the Country People) were very good against an Earthquake. 1838Macaulay in Trevelyan Life II. vii. 9 On his guard against the sins which beset literary men. 1853Trench Proverbs 113 A proverb which warns against a bad book. a1884Mod. Railway Notice.—‘Passengers are cautioned against crossing the line.’ Omnibus Notice.—‘The Public are cautioned against pickpockets.’
V. Of mutual opposition or relation.
From the idea of bartering one thing against another, i.e. offering them on opposite sides, comes,
14. In exchange for, in return for; as an equivalent or set-off for; in lieu of, instead of. Now only lit.; formerly also fig.
1205Layamon 8837 Aȝenes uuel ich wulle don god. c1230Hali Meid. 7 Aȝaines an likinge habben twa of þunchunges. c1300K. Alis. 6094 The kynges Losen ten ageyns on. c1450Myrc 55 Euere do gode a-ȝeynes euele. 1534tr. More's On the Passion Wks. 1557, 1306/2 That agaynste his great loue we be not founde vnkynde. 1833H. Martineau Berkeley i. iv. 74 When men used to exchange wheat against bullocks.
15. a. In the opposite scale; on the other side; as a counter-balance to.
1531Elyot Governor iii. xxviii. (1557) 212 Beinge exactly wayed the one agaynst the other. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. ii. 102 Let there be waid Your Ladies loue against some other Maid. 1722Wollaston Relig. Nat. ii. 36 A little pain will weigh against a great deal of pleasure. 1840Glassford Bell Queen Mary, Then weigh against a grain of sand the glories of a throne.
b. Hence, to set off against: to place an item in an account on the opposite side to a previous entry, so as to cancel or diminish the latter; also fig.
1844Disraeli Coningsby ix. vi. 337 An adequate set off against the odium that attached to their opinions. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. xviii, Against the fall of Mons might well be set off the taking of Athlone.
†16. fig. In comparison with; in contrast to. Obs.
c1300in Wright Lyric P. xxv. 68 Jesu..Al that may with eȝen se, Haveth no suetnesse aȝeynes the. c1400Rom. Rose 6877 Hir paroch prest nys but a beest Ayens me and my companye. 1481Caxton Myrrour ii. xiii. 96 We be so lytil ayenst them. 1672–3Marvell Rehears. Transp. (1675) II. 137 You distinguish the elder times against these.
17. In Betting, against the likelihood of (a particular horse, etc., winning): denoting that the probability of losing is reckoned to exceed that of winning (by the amount specified by the odds). Also fig. and ellipt. as advb.
1845,1875[see odds n. 5]. 1935D. Runyon Money from Home 238, I long ago came to the conclusion that all life is six to five against. 1985Times 20 May 12/1 As opposition to Mrs Thatcher mounts.., I hear that the Commons' unofficial bookie..offers odds of 7–4 against her still being prime minister by the end of next year.
VI. Of time.
†18. Drawing towards, near the beginning of, close to. Obs.
c1320Sir Bevis 1971 On a dai, agenes the eue. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1356 The white swan Agens his deth be-gynnyth for to synge. c1440Morte Arth. 103 Agaynste day he felle on slepe. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 397/3 The Sonday ageynst euen ther came a grete multytude of fendes. 1523Ld. Berners Froissart I. xviii. 20 And whan it was ageynst nyght, they came to the ryuer of Tyne. 1634Malory's Arthur i. cx. 200 It happened him, against a night, to come to a fair courtlage.
19. esp. with some idea of preparation: In view of; in anticipation of, in preparation for, in time for.
c1350St. Jerome's 15 Tokens (1878) 92 Þat God wil Aȝeins domesdai. c1425Seven Sages 1488 How scho myght agayens nyght Fonden a tale al newe. 1577–87Harrison Eng. i. ii. v. (1877) 121 This furniture is to be provided against his installation. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xviii. 431 The moist dropping of stone walls against rainy weather. 1659Burton Diary (1828) IV. 349 To shorten the business against Thursday. 1697Locke Lett. (1708) 194 Some additions to my book against the next edition. 1741Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 131 If I chose to order any new clothes against my marriage. 1758Wesley in Wks. 1872 II. 435 Having a Sermon to write against the Assizes at Bedford. 1832H. Martineau Each & All i. 14 Go to Covent Garden, to see the people dressing it up against sunrise. 1875Emerson Lett. & Soc. Aims viii. 194 When the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, he had built, against her arrival, a palace. a1884Mod. He has a few pounds put by against a ‘rainy day.’
B. conj. or conjunctive adv. In reference to time, against prep. 18 is also used relatively (explainable by ellipsis as, Against (the time) at which or that I come, Against I come). By the time that, before. Either of simple futurity, or futurity and contingency.
†a. with rel. Obs.
1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xxii. 319 Aȝeynst þat þi greynes..bygynneþ to growe, Ordeyne þe an hous, peers · to herberghen in thi cornes.
b. simply. arch or dial.
c1300in Wright Lyric P. iv. 23 His hap he deth ful harde on hete, aȝeynz he howeth heune. 1577St. Aug. Manuell 33 Thou preparest a table diversly furnished against I come. 1602Shakes. Ham. i. i. 158 Euer 'gainst that Season comes. 1611Bible 2 Kings xvi. 11 Vriiah the Priest made it, against [Wyclif, Coverd. til] king Ahaz came from Damascus. 1689Selden Table Talk (1847) 5 Prepare a Child against he comes to be a Man. 1749Fielding Tom Jones i. iii. (1840) 3 To provide it pap..against it waked. a1797H. Walpole George II (1847) II. iii. 79 In getting the Bill ready against it was necessary. 1837Dickens Pickw. (1847) 223/1 Throw on another log of wood against father comes home. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair liv. (1866) 454 The publican shutting his shutters in the sunshine, against service commenced.
C. adv. rare. = again adv.
c1480Rob. the Devyll 8 To the chirche..and home ayenst.
D. in comb. rare as a variant of again: as against-saying, against-standing.
a1564Becon Christ & Antichr. (1844) 510 Without any resistance or against-saying. c1440Gesta Rom. 9 He shuld lese his life, with oute ony ayenst-stondyng. |