Verb

(oppos)

To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand.

to oppose''' the king in battle; to '''oppose a bill in Congress

There is still time to oppose this plan.

To object to.

Many religious leaders oppose cloning humans.

To present or set up in opposition; to pose.

They are opposed to any form of hierarchy.

* John Locke

I may oppose my single opinion to his.

* 1839 , Philip Meadows Taylor, Confessions of a Thug

[T]hree walls had been left standing, with large intervals between each; and they would certainly oppose a most formidable interruption to an invader.

To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.

* Shakespeare

Her grace sat down / In a rich chair of state; opposing freely / The beauty of her person to the people.

To compete with; to strive against.

to oppose a rival for a prize

* Shakespeare

I am too weak / To oppose your cunning.

Verb

(en verb)

To stop; to keep (from happening).

I brushed my teeth to prevent them from going yellow.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=October 1 , author=Tom Fordyce , title=Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Scotland must now hope Georgia produce a huge upset and beat Argentina by at least eight points in Sunday's final Pool B match to prevent them failing to make the last eight for the first time in World Cup history.}}

* 1897 , Henry James, What Maisie Knew :

‘I think you must be mad, and she shall not have a glimpse of it while I'm here to prevent !’

(obsolete) To come before; to precede.

* Bible, 1 Thess. iv. 15

We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

* Book of Common Prayer

We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us.

* Prior

Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen.

(obsolete) To outdo, surpass.

* 1596 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , IV.i:

With that he put his spurres vnto his steed, / With speare in rest, and toward him did fare, / Like shaft out of a bow preuenting speed.

(obsolete) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.

* Alexander Pope

their ready guilt preventing thy commands