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opposer (c.1136-65)

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The form oposer is a cross reference to the following entry:

opposer (c.1136-65)

oposer,  opposier  
  FEW:  opponere *7,375b / pausare 8,69b Gdf:  opposer 5,608b GdfC:  opposer 10,235c / opposant 10,235c TL: oposer 6,1154 DEAF:  oposer  DMF:  opposer  / opposant  TLF:  opposer  / opposant  OED:  oppose v.  / opposant n.  MED:  opposen v.  / opposinge ger.  DMLBS:  opponere 2035b

The OED (see sub oppose v.) distinguishes two semantic branches for the oppos- group of words, both derived from Latin opponere: Branch I has the senses relating to ‘examination or interrogation’, and Branch II those relating to ‘opposition or opponency’. The former is considered the medieval sense of the word (as a synonym for apposer1), whereas the latter (despite being closer to the Latin core sense) is said to be ‘rare in English before the late 16th century’. The MED supports this statement, with all of the senses of ​opposen v. 30771 falling into the Branch I category. The limited material available in Anglo-Norman, on the other hand, suggests not only that both senses seem to have been attested in medieval times, but also that they cannot be easily separated, with many instances expressing an idea of ‘questioning through objection’ or ‘objecting through questioning’.

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v.trans.

1to counter, oppose
( c.1136-65; MS: c.1200 )  Raisnablement od els parrot E vertuosement ovrout Que de parole ne de ovrer Ne li saveient opposer  Salemon 714
2phil.theol.to use in opposition, present as a counter-argument
( c.1136-65; MS: c.1200 )  li philosophe paen, Kis (=scriptural mysteries) adversent trop de lor sen, Encontre auctorité divine Opposent lur false doctrine  Salemon 8686
( s.xiiiin; MS: s.xiii2/4 )  Kar partant se acuintereient Quels les puinz Simun serreient, Si se en porreit l'um cuntregueiter De ceo que il vuldrat opposer  S Clem ANTS 1684
lawto argue in opposition
( c.1292; MS: c.1300 )  Mes ore poreit acun dire opposaunt le contrarie, issi, qe si tu gaynes ma terre sauntz moen coungé et la semes [...]  BRITT i 368
( 1360 )  a tout ce qui nous vorrions dire ou opposer au contraire en jugement ou dehors  Foedera1 iii 525
3to probe, question
( s.xiiiin; MS: s.xiii2/4 )  A voz foles questiuns Asez truveraie soluciuns Del guibet et del olifant Dunt vus me alez opposant  S Clem ANTS 1044
( 1212; MS: 1212-13 )  Lors lu prist sis sire opposer Por saveir s'il seust parler Grezais  Dial Greg SATF 16599
( s.xiii4/4; MS: 1315-25 )  Jesu ne guers targa Ke il cel mester (Zakarie, who wants to teach J.C.) ne opposa: Mut tost veir li demanda Ke ce fu k'il [es]garda  Enfances 578
( 1323-25 )  Et si le counte soit opposez ové les autres messages de la venue nostre seignur le roi, il ad a dire de eux mesmes nient par lour creance q'ils quident estre tut certeins qe nostre seignur le roi est en volenté d'estre au roi de France as oytaves de Seint Johan  St Sard 182
lawto question, interrogate
( c.1292; MS: c.1300 )  il se pusent aviser de certeyne respounse quant il de ceo serount apposez (var. (M: s.xivin) opposez)  BRITT i 300 (var.)
( 1380 )  q'ils serront prestes alors devant nostre dit conseil illoeqes a respondre a ce que homme leur vourra surmettre, dire et opposer  GAUNT2 i 62.185
( 1391 )  opposez et aresonez de la dite matire, confesserent et granterent q'ils feurent coupables de les trespasses [...]  Rot Parl1 iii 287
( 1399 )  Wautier Clopton', chief justice de bank le roy, par comandement du roy, opposa le dit William, coment, et par quel garant, le dit William ala a Caleys a le duc de Gloucestre en un message? Et le dit William respondi et dist [...]  Rot Parl1 iii 430
opposer si
lawto ask, question whether
( 1319 )  E fut opposé de partie e de la curt s'il fut seisi, e ne poait ceo dire  YBB Ed II xxiv 28

v.intrans.

to question, ask questions
( s.xiiiin; MS: s.xiii2/4 )  Quant un oppose e autre respunt Cil kil oient amendé en sunt  S Clem ANTS 2807
( 1212; MS: 1212-13 )  Dialoge est veraiment [...] Quant uns respont e autre oppose  Dial Greg SATF 10ra
lawto question, interrogate
( s.xiiim; MS: s.xiv1/4 )  Quaunt vas a plez pur pleder, Purver te dais ben e aprester Pur ben respundre e opposer  CATO ANON ANTS 29
( 1339 )  De reliefs receivre, de jurer en l'alme de nous, si mestiers est: De compromettre, de pacifier, d'assentir, de repliker, de opposer et de respondre  Foedera1 ii 1076

p.pr. as s.

opponent, one who asks questions
( 1212; MS: 1212-13 )  Pierres a nom li opposant [...] E cil qui sout est saint Gregoire  Dial Greg SATF 187

[gdw]

See also:

apposer1  opposaille  opposement  opposicioun  opposite  opposour 
This is an AND2 Phase 4 (N-O/U-P-Q) entry. © 2013-17 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
oposer