The word "opponent" /əˈpoʊ.nənt/ is spelled with two consonant letters, "p" and "n", both of which are pronounced separately. The first syllable "op" is pronounced with a short "o" sound /ɑp/ and an unaspirated "p" sound, while the second syllable "-ponent" is pronounced with a schwa vowel sound /ə/ and an unaspirated "p" sound followed by a dental nasal /n/ sound. The stress is on the second syllable, making "opponent" a two-syllable word.
An opponent refers to a person or entity that stands in direct opposition to another individual or group, particularly in the context of a competition, contest, conflict, or disagreement. The term is commonly used to highlight a person who holds contrasting views, ideas, opinions, or objectives with regards to an issue, a cause, a team, or a political stance. An opponent is often seen as an adversary or a rival, somebody who presents a challenge or obstacle to achieving a desired outcome or goal.
In sports, an opponent is someone competing against another individual or team in a game or match. They are regarded as a formidable adversary, as they strive to outperform and triumph over their opponent. In political settings, an opponent typically refers to a candidate standing in direct contrast to another candidate. This highlights a challenging and competitive environment where each opponent endeavors to gain the upper hand and garner support from voters.
Moreover, an opponent can also extend beyond individual humans. It can include organizations, institutions, ideologies, or even natural forces that are acting contrary to one's interests or objectives. In any context, an opponent represents a contrasting force, pushing back against the aims and intentions of the individual or group they are opposing.
• One who opposes, as in argument or controversy; an adversary; a rival.
• That opposes; adverse.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "opponent" originated from the Latin word "opponens" (present participle of "opponere") which means "to oppose" or "to set against". "Opponere" is a compound word composed of "ob-" meaning "against" and "ponere" meaning "to place" or "to set". Hence, the etymology of "opponent" reveals its meaning as someone or something that is set or placed against another, thus indicating opposition or resistance.