Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
AGAINST
Etymology
Preposition
against
In a contrary direction to.
In physical opposition to; in collision with.
In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.
Close to, alongside.
In front of; before (a background).
In contrast or comparison with.
In competition with, versus.
Contrary to; in conflict with.
In opposition to.
Antonym: for
Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.
Antonym: on
In exchange for.
As counterbalance to.
As a charge on.
As protection from.
In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).
(Hollywood) To be paid now in contrast to the following amount to be paid later under specified circumstances, usually that a movie is made or has started filming.
(obsolete) Exposed to.
Synonyms
• (in competition with): versus
Antonyms
• with
Conjunction
against
(obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
Anagrams
• Gaitans, antigas, antisag
Source: Wiktionary
A*gainst", prep. Etym: [OE. agens, ageynes, AS. ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See Again.]
1. Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over. Jacob saw the angels of God come against him. Tyndale.
2. From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof.
3. In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time. The gate would have been shut against her. Fielding. An argument against the use of steam. Tyndale.
4. By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when. [Archaic or Dial.] Urijah the priest made it, against King Ahaz came from Damascus. 2 Kings xvi. 11. Against the sun, in a direction contrary to that in which the sun appears to move.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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GUILLOTINE
(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”
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