Opisthobranchiate O·pis`tho·bran"chi·ate adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Opisthobranchiata. -- noun One of the Opisthobranchiata.

Opisthocœlian, Opisthocœlous O·pis`tho·cœ"li·an, O·pis`tho·cœ"lous adjective [ Greek ... behind + koi^los hollow,] (Anat.) Concave behind; -- applied especially to vertebræ in which the anterior end of the centrum is convex and the posterior concave.

Opisthodome O·pis"tho·dome noun [ Latin opisthodomus , Greek ...; ... behind + do`mos house: confer French opisthodome .] (Architecture) A back chamber; especially, that part of the naos, or cella, farthest from the main entrance, sometimes having an entrance of its own, and often used as a treasury.

Opisthoglypha O·pis`tho·glyph"a noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... behind + ... to carve.] (Zoology) A division of serpents which have some of the posterior maxillary teeth grooved for fangs.

Opisthography Op`is·thog"ra·phy noun [ Greek ... behind + -graphy .] A writing upon the back of anything, as upon the back of a leaf or sheet already written upon on one side. [ R.] Scudamore.

Opisthomi Op`is·tho"mi noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... behind + ... the shoulder.] (Zoology) An order of eellike fishes having the scapular arch attached to the vertebræ, but not connected with the skull.

Opisthopulmonate O·pis`tho·pul"mo·nate adjective [ Greek ... behind + English pulmonate .] (Zoology) Having the pulmonary sac situated posteriorly; -- said of certain air-breathing Mollusca.

Opisthotic Op`is·thot"ic noun [ Greek ... behind + ..., ..., ear.] (Anat.) The inferior and posterior of the three elements forming the periotic bone.

Opisthotonos Op`is·thot"o·nos noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... backwards + ... a stretching.] (Medicine) A tetanic spasm in which the body is bent backwards and stiffened.

Opitulation O·pit`u·la"tion noun [ Latin opitulatio , from opitulari to bring help.] The act of helping or aiding; help. [ Obsolete] Bailey.

Opium O"pi·um noun [ Latin , from Greek ... poppy juice, dim. of ... vegetable juice.] (Chemistry) The inspissated juice of the Papaver somniferum , or white poppy.

» Opium is obtained from incisions made in the capsules of the plant, and the best flows from the first incision. It is imported into Europe and America chiefly from the Levant, and large quantities are sent to China from India, Persia, and other countries. It is of a brownish yellow color, has a faint smell, and bitter and acrid taste. It is a stimulant narcotic poison, which may produce hallicinations, profound sleep, or death. It is much used in medicine to soothe pain and inflammation, and is smoked as an intoxicant with baneful effects.

Opium joint , a low resort of opium smokers. [ Slang]

Ople tree O"ple tree` [ Latin opulus a kind of maple tree.] The witch-hazel. [ Obsolete] Ainsworth.

Opobalsam Op`o·bal"sam Op`o*bal"sa*mum noun [ Latin opobalsamum , Greek ...; ... vegetable juice + ... balsam.] (Medicine) The old name of the aromatic resinous juice of the Balsamodendron opobalsamum , now commonly called balm of Gilead . See under Balm .

Opodeldoc Op`o·del"doc noun [ So called by Paracelsus. The first syllable may be from Greek ... vegetable juice.]

1. A kind of plaster, said to have been invented by Mindererus, -- used for external injuries. [ Obsolete]

2. A saponaceous, camphorated liniment; a solution of soap in alcohol, with the addition of camphor and essential oils; soap liniment.

Opolchenie Op`ol·che"ni·e noun [ Russian , from opolchit' to make an army, polk army. Confer Folk .] (Russia) See Army organization , above.

Opopanax O·pop"a·nax noun [ Latin , from Greek ...; ... vegetable juice + ..., .... a kind of plant: confer French opopanax .] The inspissated juice of an umbelliferous plant (the Opoponax Chironum ), brought from Turkey and the East Indies in loose granules, or sometimes in larger masses, of a reddish yellow color, with specks of white. It has a strong smell and acrid taste, and was formerly used in medicine as an emmenagogue and antispasmodic. Dunglison.

Opossum O·pos"sum noun [ Of N. American Indian origin.] (Zoology) Any American marsupial of the genera Didelphys and Chironectes . The common species of the United States is Didelphys Virginiana .

» Several related species are found in South America. The water opossum of Brazil ( Chironectes variegatus ), which has the hind feet, webbed, is provided with a marsupial pouch and with cheek pouches. It is called also yapock .

Opossum mouse . (Zoology) See Flying mouse , under Flying . -- Opossum shrimp (Zoology) , any schizopod crustacean of the genus Mysis and allied genera. See Schizopoda .

Oppidan Op"pi·dan adjective [ Latin oppidanus , from oppidum town.] Of or pertaining to a town. Howell.

Oppidan Op"pi·dan noun 1. An inhabitant of a town.

2. A student of Eton College, England, who is not a King's scholar, and who boards in a private family.

Oppignerate Op·pig"ner·ate intransitive verb [ Latin oppigneratus , past participle of oppignerare to pawn. See Ob- , and Pignerate .] To pledge; to pawn. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Oppilate Op"pi·late transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Oppilated ; present participle & verbal noun Oppilating .] [ Latin oppilatus , past participle of oppilare to stop up; ob (see Ob- ) + pilare to ram down, to thrust.] To crowd together; to fill with obstructions; to block up. [ Obsolete] Cockeram.

Oppilation Op`pi·la"tion noun [ Latin oppilatio : confer French opilation .] The act of filling or crowding together; a stopping by redundant matter; obstruction, particularly in the lower intestines. Jer. Taylor.

Oppilative Op`pi·la·tive adjective [ Confer French opilatif . See Oppilate .] Obstructive. [ Obsolete] Sherwood.

Opplete, Oppleted Op·plete", Op·plet"ed adjective [ Latin oppletus , past participle of opplere to fill up; ob (see Ob- ) + plere to fill.] Filled; crowded. [ Obsolete] Johnson.

Oppletion Op·ple"tion noun The act of filling up, or the state of being filled up; fullness. [ Obsolete]

Oppone Op·pone" transitive verb [ Latin opponere . See Opponent .] To oppose. [ Obsolete] B. Jonson.

Opponency Op·po"nen·cy noun The act of opening an academical disputation; the proposition of objections to a tenet, as an exercise for a degree. [ Eng.] Todd.

Opponent Op·po"nent adjective [ Latin opponens , -entis , present participle of opponere to set or place against, to oppose; ob (see Ob- ) + ponere to place. See Position .] Situated in front; opposite; hence, opposing; adverse; antagonistic. Pope.

Opponent Op·po"nent noun 1. One who opposes; an adversary; an antagonist; a foe. Macaulay.

2. One who opposes in a disputation, argument, or other verbal controversy; specifically, one who attacks some theirs or proposition, in distinction from the respondent , or defendant , who maintains it.

How becomingly does Philopolis exercise his office, and seasonably commit the opponent with the respondent, like a long-practiced moderator!

Dr. H. More.

Syn. -- Antagonist; opposer; foe. See Adversary .

Opportune Op`por·tune" adjective [ French opporiun , Latin opportunus , lit., at or before the port; ob (see Ob- ) + a derivative of portus port, harbor. See Port harbor.] Convenient; ready; hence, seasonable; timely. Milton.

This is most opportune to our need.

Shak.

-- Op`por*tune"ly , adverb -- Op`por*tune"ness , noun

Opportune Op`por·tune" transitive verb To suit. [ Obsolete] Dr. Clerke(1637).

Opportunism Op`por·tun"ism noun [ Confer French opportunisme .] The art or practice of taking advantage of opportunities or circumstances, or of seeking immediate advantage with little regard for ultimate consequences. [ Recent]

Opportunist Op`por·tun"ist noun [ Confer French opportuniste .] One who advocates or practices opportunism. [ Recent]

Opportunity Op`por·tu"ni·ty noun ; plural Opportunities . [ French opportunité , Latin opportunitas . See Opportune .] 1. Fit or convenient time; a time or place favorable for executing a purpose; a suitable combination of conditions; suitable occasion; chance.

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

Bacon.

2. Convenience of situation; fitness. [ Obsolete]

Hull, a town of great strength and opportunity , both to sea and land affairs.

Milton.

3. Importunity; earnestness. [ Obsolete] Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- Occasion; convenience; occurrence. -- Opportunity , Occasion . An occasion is that which falls in our way, or presents itself in the course of events; an opportunity is a convenience or fitness of time, place, etc., for the doing of a thing. Hence, occasions often make opportunities . The occasion of sickness may give opportunity for reflection.

Opposability Op·pos`a·bil"i·ty noun The condition or quality of being opposable.

In no savage have I ever seen the slightest approach to opposability of the great toe, which is the essential distinguishing feature of apes.

A. R. Wallace.

Opposable Op·pos"a·ble adjective 1. Capable of being opposed or resisted.

2. Capable of being placed opposite something else; as, the thumb is opposable to the forefinger.

Opposal Op·pos"al noun Opposition. [ R.] Sir T. Herbert.

Oppose Op·pose" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Opposed ; present participle & verbal noun Opposing .] [ French opposer . See Ob- , Pose , and confer 2d Appose , Puzzle , noun Confer L. opponere , oppositum .] 1. To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.

Her grace sat down . . .
In a rich chair of state; opposing freely
The beauty of her person to the people.

Shak.

2. To put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or countervail; to set against; to offer antagonistically.

I may . . . oppose my single opinion to his.

Locke.

3. To resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand; as, to oppose the king in battle; to oppose a bill in Congress.

4. To compete with; to strive against; as, to oppose a rival for a prize.

I am . . . too weak
To oppose your cunning.

Shak.

Syn. -- To combat; withstand; contradict; deny; gainsay; oppugn; contravene; check; obstruct.

Oppose Op·pose" intransitive verb 1. To be set opposite. Shak.

2. To act adversely or in opposition; -- with against or to ; as, a servant opposed against the act. [ Obsolete] Shak.

3. To make objection or opposition in controversy.

Opposeless Op·pose"less adjective Not to be effectually opposed; irresistible. [ Obsolete] "Your great opposeless wills." Shak.

Opposer Op·pos"er noun One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist; an adversary.

Opposite Op"po·site adjective [ French, from Latin oppositus , past participle of opponere . See Opponent .] 1. Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; -- often with to ; as, a house opposite to the Exchange.

2. Applied to the other of two things which are entirely different; other; as, the opposite sex; the opposite extreme.

3. Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pieasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem.

Dryden.

Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite , significations.

Locke.

4. (Botany) (a) Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node. (b) Placed directly in front of another part or organ, as a stamen which stands before a petal.

Opposite Op"po·site noun 1. One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist. [ Obsolete]

The opposites of this day's strife.

Shak.

2. That which is opposed or contrary; as, sweetness and its opposite .

The virtuous man meets with more opposites and opponents than any other.

Landor.

Oppositely Op"po·site·ly adverb In a situation to face each other; in an opposite manner or direction; adversely.

Winds from all quarters oppositely blow.

May.

Oppositeness Op"po·site·ness noun The quality or state of being opposite.

Oppositifolious Op·pos`i·ti·fo"li·ous adjective [ See Opposite , Folious .] (Botany) Placed at the same node with a leaf, but separated from it by the whole diameter of the stem; as, an oppositifolious peduncle.

Opposition Op`po·si"tion noun [ French, from Latin oppositio . See Opposite .] 1. The act of opposing; an attempt to check, restrain, or defeat; resistance.

The counterpoise of so great an opposition .

Shak.

Virtue which breaks through all opposition .

Milton.

2. The state of being placed over against; situation so as to front something else. Milton.

3. Repugnance; contrariety of sentiment, interest, or purpose; antipathy. Shak.

4. That which opposes; an obstacle; specifically, the aggregate of persons or things opposing; hence, in politics and parliamentary practice, the party opposed to the party in power.

5. (Astron.) The situation of a heavenly body with respect to another when in the part of the heavens directly opposite to it; especially, the position of a planet or satellite when its longitude differs from that of the sun 180°; - - signified by the symbol ...; as, ... &Jupiter; &Sun;, opposition of Jupiter to the sun.

6. (Logic) The relation between two propositions when, having the same subject and predicate, they differ in quantity, or in quality, or in both; or between two propositions which have the same matter but a different form.

Oppositionist Op`po·si"tion·ist noun One who belongs to the opposition party. Praed.

Oppositipetalous Op·pos`i·ti·pet"al·ous adjective [ See Opposite , and Petal .] (Botany) Placed in front of a petal.

Oppositisepalous Op·pos`i·ti·sep"al·ous adjective [ See Opposite , and Sepal .] (Botany) Placed in front of a sepal.

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