喜樂美語

核心畫面

Picture two people placed face to face across something — a , a net, a debating floor. They are not enemies who hate each other; they are simply the one standing on the other side, pushing the other way. Whatever you want, they want the opposite, and that is what makes the match a match. That figure across from you, defined only by facing you, can be held as the picture inside 'opponent' — which is why the word needs a relationship to exist: you are always someone's opponent, in some particular contest.

可以想成兩個人隔著某樣東西面對面站著——一張棋盤、一張球網、一個辯論場。他們不是互相仇恨的敵人，只是站在另一邊、往反…更多收起可以想成兩個人隔著某樣東西面對面站著——一張棋盤、一張球網、一個辯論場。他們不是互相仇恨的敵人，只是站在另一邊、往反方向推的那個人。你要的，他要相反的，這場比賽才成立。那個「因為面對著你才存在」的身影，就是 opponent 的畫面；也因為這樣，這個字一定要有關係才站得住——你永遠是「某人的」對手，在「某一場」較量裡。

From the word’s history

From Latin 'opponentem' (nominative 'opponens'), present participle of 'opponere' = 'to oppose, object to', literally 'set against, set opposite' — from 'ob' ('in front of, in the way of') + 'ponere' ('to put, set, place'). In English from the 1580s it first meant one who argues the contrary side in a formal debate; the wider 'adversary' sense follows by the 1610s.

拉丁文 opponere 的字面就是「放在對面、放到前面擋著」（ob「在前面、擋路」＋ ponere「放」）。所以這個字的重點是位置，不是情緒：某人被擺在你的對面，如此而已。1580 年代進英文時，先指正式辯論裡站在反方的人，1610 年代左右才擴大成一般的「對手」。難怪它到今天同時能用在球場和議題上——兩邊都是「被放在對面」的那個人。

Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), entry 'opponent'

原始詞典資料7 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

opponentnoun/əˈpəʊ.nənt/

  • 1

    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

    • The person who ran against her in the last election proved to be a formidable opponent.
    • During the crackdown, many opponents of the regime were arrested.
  • 2

    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

    • 1720, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer, London: Bernard Lintott, Volume 6, “Observations on the Twenty-Third Book,” no. 39, p. 136, In the Chariot-Race Achilles is represented as being able to conquer every Opponent […]
    • […] he slid his right hand down to his left, and with the full swing of the weapon struck his opponent on the left side of the head, who instantly measured his length upon the green sward.
  • 3

    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

    • It is easier to confound than to convince an opponent; the former may be effected by a turn that has more happiness than truth in it.
    • “What more have you to say?” she asked, rather in the tone in which a person might address an opponent of adult age than such as is ordinarily used to a child.
  • 4

    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

    • She was a dedicated opponent of the death penalty.
    • Their Oath is to maintain the Romish-Catholick Religion, and persecute all Opponents to it.
  • 5

    historicalOne who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

    • We make the argument appere slender, when we receiue it laughyngly, and declare by wordes, euen at the first, that it is nothyng to the purpose, and so abashe the opponent.
    • […] diuinitie disputations, in all which those learned opponents, respondents, & moderators, quited themselues like themselues, sharplie and soundlie, besides all other solemne sermons & lectures.

opponentadj/əˈpəʊ.nənt/

  • 1

    obsoleteOpposing; adverse; antagonistic.

    • […] we are to consider enemies as men opponent to peace and justice, and to these they are by warrs to be reduced; And no other ends in the pursuite of enemies by sword and hostile Acts are to be sought for […]
    • Young Ithacus advanc’d, defies the foe, Poising his lifted lance in act to throw: The savage renders vain the wound decreed, And springs impetuous with opponent speed!
  • 2

    obsoleteSituated in front; opposite.

    • Her sympathizing Lover takes his Stand High on th’ opponent Bank […]

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。