A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1499-1665
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Oppositio(u)n, n. Also: -ione, -yown, opposicion, oposition; appositione, apposicion. [ME. (Chaucer, Lydgate) and e.m.E. opposicio(u)n, -ition, F. opposition (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. oppositio.]
1. Astronomical opposition or an instance of this. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 13.
And fair Venus … set unto the west full richt Hir goldin face in oppositioun Of God Phebus direct discending doun 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1856.
Of planeitis all the coniunctiounis Thair epistillis and oppositiounis a1568 Bell. Bannatyne MS 1 a/5.
And hornit Dean … Approcheand to hir oppositioun 1531 Bell. Boece I. 286. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 55/16.
The mune is ay ful, as veil at the coniunction as at the appositione 1549 Ib. 55/22.
For sche [the moon] resauis mair lycht in hyr oppositione fra the soune nor aperis tyl vs 1549 Ib. /11. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 11.
Maist in tyme of coniunctioune & oppositioun of sone and mone
2. A contrary argument or pleading; an adverse plea; the raising of objections. c1420 Wynt. viii. 1601.
Syn he hym [Balliol] cald off Scotland … In hys parlement till appere Tyll this Makduff to mak awnswere … And till ma opposityownys [C. apposicionnys] 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. 14 a.
And the oppositioun being foundin relevant is provin frahand be the aith of the witnesis 1591 Aboyne Rec. 169.
It sall be lefull to the said nobill lord … to … dispone thairupone … without contradictioun oppositioun reclamatioun [etc.] 1603 Inverness Rec. II. 14.
Conforme to their infeftment grantit to them theirvpoune but ony oppositioun to be proponit be hir in the contrar 1642 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 286. 1645 Ib. IV. 55. 1657 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 448.
Wee haveing obteaned a patent … have … met with great oppositione from severall interest … in prosecuting so just ane intendment 1657 Ib.
The former oppositionis
3. Resistance or antagonism, more generally. 1665 Dunkeld Presb. I. 20.
In the west countrie, wher the oposition was greatest, I am told that [etc.]
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"Opposition n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/oppositioun>
