anta

‖ n. [ Pref. anti- + acid. ] (Med.) A remedy for neutralizing acidity, especially of the stomach, as an alkali or absorbent. -- a. Counteractive of acidity. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

a. [ Pref. anti- + acrid. ] Corrective of acrimony of the humors. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] Pertaining to Antaeus, a giant athlete slain by Hercules. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'antagw`nisma, fr. 'antagwni`zesqai to struggle against; 'anti` against + 'agwni`zesqai to contend or struggle, 'agw`n contest: cf. F. antagonisme. See Agony. ] Opposition of action; counteraction or contrariety of things or principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ We speak of antagonism between two things, to or against a thing, and sometimes with a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools of philosophy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. antagonista, Gr. 'antagwnisth`s; 'anti` against + 'agwnisth`s combatant, champion, fr. 'agwni`zesqai: cf. F. antagoniste. See Antagonism. ] 1. One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our antagonists in these controversies. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist of an extensor, which extends it. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) A substance which opposes the actions of another substance in the body, especially a drgu that counteracts the effects of another drug. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

Syn. -- Adversary; enemy; opponent; foe; competitor. See Adversary. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Opposing in combat, combating; contending or acting against; as, antagonistic forces. -- An*tag`o*nis"tic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

They were distinct, adverse, even antagonistic. Milman. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. muscles having opposite effects; the contraction of one neutralizes the contraction of the other.
Syn. -- antagonistic muscles. [ WordNet 1.5 ]