Op`po*si"tion (?), n. [F., fr. L.
oppositio. See Opposite.] 1. The
act of opposing; an attempt to check, restrain, or defeat;
resistance.
The counterpoise of so great an
opposition.
Shak.
Virtue which breaks through all
opposition.
Milton.
2. The state of being placed over against;
situation so as to front something else. Milton.
3. Repugnance; contrariety of sentiment,
interest, or purpose; antipathy. Shak.
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.
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°; -
- signified by the symbol ?; as, ? ♃ ☉, opposition of
Jupiter to the sun.
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.