I.sync.: “oppostus for oppositus,” Lucr. 4, 150), v. a. ob-pono, to set or place against, to set or station before or opposite, to oppose (class., cf.: obicio, offero, adversor).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “se venientibus in itinere,” Caes. B. C 3, 30: “huic equites,” id. ib. 3, 75: “turrim ad introitum portūs,” id. ib. 3, 39: armatos homines ad omnes introitus. Cic. Caecin. 8, 27: “Eumenem adversariis,” Nep. Eum. 3, 2: (Hannibali) opposuit natura Alpemque nivemque, Juv 10, 152.—To place or put before, to hold before: “ante oculos opposuit manum, Ov F. 4, 178: oculis manūs,” id. ib. 3, 46: “manum fronti,” id. M. 2, 276: “gallinae se opponant (pullis),” Cic. N. D. 2, 52, 130: “foramini oculos,” to keep before the opening, Petr. 96: “eos opponi omnibus contionibus auctores ad perniciem meam,” represented, held up as, Cic. Sest. 19, 42: “licet antestari? ego vero Oppono auriculam,” offer, present, Hor. S. 1, 9, 76: “oppositas habere fores,” i. e. closed, Ov. H. 17, 8. —To apply, as a remedy: “brassicam,” Cato, R. R. 157.—
B. In partic., to set against as a pledge, to pledge, wager, mortgage: “pono pallium: ille suum anulum opposivit,” Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 77: potes mutuam drachumam me dare? Ps. Vix hercle opino, etsi me opponam pignori, id. Ps. 1, 1, 84: ager oppositus est, pignori ob decem minas, Ter. Phorm. 4, 3, 56; Vulg. 2 Esdr. 5, 3.—So, with a play upon both meanings: “villula nostra non ad Austri flatus opposita est, verum ad milia quindecim,” mortgaged, Cat. 26, 1 sq. —
C. To expose, lay bare or open, abandon: “opponere se periculis pro re publicā,” Cic. Balb. 10, 26: “Saguntinis pro nudatā moenibus patriā corpora opponentibus,” Liv. 21, 8: “nudatas radices hiberno frigori,” Plin. 17, 28, 47, § 262.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen., to set before, bring forward, set before the eyes or mind, to oppose, adduce, allege: “pericula intendantur, formidines opponantur,” Cic. Quint. 14, 47: “ut ante occupet (orator), quod videat opponi,” id. Or. 40, 138; id. Top. 24, 92; 25, 96: “auctoritatem suam,” id. Ac. 2, 20, 64: “his quattuor causis totidem medicinae opponuntur,” id. de Or. 2, 83, 339: “opposuisti semel Ciceronis nostri valetudinem: conticui,” id. Q. Fr. 2, 8 (10), 1: “muri causam,” id. Off. 3, 10, 41.—
B. In partic.
1. To speak against, oppose, object, reply, adduce in contradiction: “quid opponas, si negem,” Cic. Phil. 2, 4, 8: “non minorem auctoritatem,” id. Ac. 2, 20, 6: “iis opposuit sese Socrates,” id. Brut. 8, 31: “quid habes quod mihi opponas?” id. Phil. 2, 4, 8 sq.: “ut opponeret Stoicis, summum bonum esse frui iis rebus,” id. Ac. 2, 42, 131.—
2. To set against, oppose, by way of comparison: “multis secundis proeliis unum adversum, et id mediocre, opponerent,” Caes. B. C. 3, 73; Phaedr. Epil. 2: “rationibus labores,” Cic. Rep. 1, 3, 4: “quotiens quis dixerit, occidit Alexander Persarum multa milia, opponetur et Callisthenem,” Sen. Q. N. 6, 23, 2; id. Ep. 117, 5; 118, 8 sq.; cf.: “felicia tempora, quae te Moribus opponunt!” Juv. 2, 39.—
C. Jusjurandum alicui, to impose an oath on one, Dig. 37, 14, 6.—Hence. oppŏsĭtus , a, um, P a., placed or standing against or opposite, lying over against, opposed to, opposite (class.): “moles oppositae fluctibus,” Cic. Off. 2, 4, 14: “luna opposita soli,” id. Div. 2, 6, 17: “oppositam petens contra Zancleia saxa Rhegion,” Ov. M. 14, 47.—Trop.: “Narbo propugnaculum istis ipsis nationibus oppositum,” Cic. Font. 1, 3.—
2. Subst.: oppŏsĭta , ōrum, n. plur., opposite, i. e. contradictory propositions, opposites (postclass.): opposita (ἀντικείμενα Graeci dicunt), Geil. 16, 8, 13.
