A*gainst" [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.
© Webster 1913.