different between against vs counterargue

English

Alternative forms

• againest (obsolete), agaynest (obsolete), agaynst (obsolete)
• ageinest (obsolete, rare), ageinst (obsolete), agenest (obsolete), agenst (obsolete), ageynest (obsolete, rare), ageynst (obsolete), agin (colloquial or humorous)
• 'gainst, gainst (poetic)

Etymology

Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes (“in opposition to”), a southern variant of agen, or directly from again, either way with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic -t was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est. Surface analysis again +? -st (excrescent ending).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????(?)nst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /????nst/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /???e?nst/
• Hyphenation: a?gainst

Preposition

against

1. In a contrary direction to.

2. In physical opposition to; in collision with.
3. In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.

4. Close to, alongside.

   A row of trees stood against a fence.
5. In front of; before (a background).

6. In contrast or comparison with.

7. In competition with, versus.

   • “[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons?! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
8. Contrary to; in conflict with.

   Doing this is against my principles.

   It is against the law to smoke on these premises.

   There was no car in sight so we crossed against the red light.

9. In opposition to.

   Antonym: for

   (with implied object) Ten voted for, and three voted against.
10. Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.

    Antonym: on

    That horse is fifty-to-one against, so it has virtually no chance of winning.

11. In exchange for.

12. As counterbalance to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
13. As a charge on.

    Tax is levied against income from sales.

14. As protection from.
15. In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).

    The stores are kept well stocked against a time of need.

    • 2003, Rodger J. Bille, A Few of the Chosen: Survivors of Terrorism, Trafford Publishing ?ISBN, page 8

      Rod, who always distrusted such methods, was forced to accept the new way but had begun to stash away large amounts of cash against the day that the system might be sabotaged or failed entirely.

16. (Hollywood) To be paid now in contrast to the following amount to be paid later under specified circumstances, usually that a movie is made or has started filming.

    The studio weren't sure the movie would ever get made, so they only paid $50,000 against $200,000. That way they wouldn't be out very much if filming never began.
17. (obsolete) Exposed to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Synonyms

• (in competition with): versus

Antonyms

• with

Translations

Conjunction

against

1. (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 6:

     He now gave Mrs Deborah positive orders to take the child to her own bed, and to call up a maid-servant to provide it pap, and other things, against it waked.

Translations

Anagrams

• Gaitans, antigas, antisag

English

Alternative forms

• counter-argue

Etymology

counter- +? argue, on the pattern of counterargument

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: koun't?rä?gyo?o, IPA^(key): /?ka?nt??????ju?/

Verb

counterargue (third-person singular simple present counterargues, present participle counterarguing, simple past and past participle counterargued)

1. (transitive, intransitive) Argue against, especially by opposition to and negation of opposing arguments (rather than the bolstering of one’s own position).
   • 2004: Eric Knowles & Jay Linn, Resistance and Persuasion, page 96 (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; ?ISBN, 9780805844863)

     We began with a set of 25 items designed to measure preferences for resisting through bolstering versus counterarguing. Examples of items geared toward those who prefer to counterargue included, “When someone challenges my beliefs, I enjoy disputing what they have to say,” and “I take pleasure in arguing with those who have opinions that differ from my own.” Items geared toward those who prefer to bolster included, “When someone gives me a point of view that conflicts with my attitudes, I like to think about why my views are right for me,” and “When someone has a different perspective on an issue, I like to make a mental list of the reasons in support of my perspective.”

Antonyms

• bolster

Derived terms

• counterarguable
• counterarguing