[ad. Gr. ἀνταγώνισμα, n. of action f. ἀνταγωνίζ-εσθαι: see ANTAGONIZE. Cf. mod.Fr. antagonisme. Not in Johnson; in Todd, 1818, without quot.]
1. The mutual resistance or active opposition of two opposing forces, physical or mental; active opposition to a force.
1839. De Quincey, in Blackw. Mag., XLVI. 647. It [Roman civilisation] feel into torpor from the moment when this antagonism ceased to operate.
1859. Mill, Liberty, ii. (1865), 28/1. Opinions favourable … to sociality and individuality, to liberty and discipline, and all the other standing antagonisms of practical life.
1880. Adye in 19th Cent., No. 38. 709. Mixing up castes and nationalities with a view to class antagonism.
b. spec. in Phys. and Art.
1853. Mayne, Exp. Lex., Antagonism, a term for the action of those muscles which are opposed to each other in their office.
1859. Mrs. Schimmelpenninck, Pric. Beauty, II. ii. § 26. 202. Antagonism is the juxtaposition of opposing expressions in equally intense degree.
1872. Darwin, Emotions, vii. 197. The central fasciæ of the frontal muscle would have contracted in antagonism.
1872. Blackie, Lays Highl., Introd. 22. One of Beethoven’s cunningly balanced antagonisms of sweet sound.
c. Const. Antagonism between two things, to or against a thing; to be or act in antagonism to; to be in, or come into antagonism with.
1838. Ferrier, in Blackw. Mag., XLIV. 587. Consciousness is an act of antagonism against the modification of man’s natural being.
1849. Cobden, Speeches, 37. The Government had not placed itself in antagonism to them.
1855. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Hist., iv. 443. The natural antagonism of a base to a noble nature.
a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz. (1869), III. iii. 171. This antagonism between the aristocratic and trading spirit.
1870. Disraeli, Lothair, xlviii. 260. That the Church is in antagonism with political freedom.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., Pref. 7. In direct antagonism to the fundamental principles of scientific education.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, II. 227. Russia … was brought into chronic antagonism with Turkey.
2. An opposing force or principle.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 340. These two Antagonisms at war here, in the case of Laud and the Puritans, are as old nearly as the world.
a. 1859. De Quincey, in Page, Life (1877), II. xix. 186. As if resulting from mighty and equal antagonisms.
1866. Ferrier, Lect. Grk. Philos., I. xiv. 435. An antagonism put forth against the passions.
