adv. Now arch. Forms: α. 4 þerageyns, 5 therayeines, -ayeynes, þer-aȝens, þar-agaynys, there aȝens. β. 5 ther agenst, ageynste, ther(eayenst(e, 6 ther agenst, -ageinst, 6– thereagainst. [f. THERE 17 + againes, AGAINST prep.]
1. Against or in opposition to that.
α. c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 367. No mon may distrie hit, or dispense þerageyns.
c. 1402. Lydg., Compl. Bl. Knt., 533. Ther ayeines shall I never stryve.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., 75. If the gretter laboure be mad thereaȝens.
β. 1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, 10. Remedyes … to be used there ageynste. Ibid., 69.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, 93 b. I will not stryue nor saye thar agenst.
c. 1647. Sanderson, Episcopacy (1673), 9. Remedy provided there against by an Act of Parliament.
1870. Magnússon & Morris, Völsunga Saga, xx. 71. But thereagainst I vowed a vow, that never would I wed one who knew the name of fear.
† 2. As a set-off thereto; contrariwise; on the other side. Obs.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1264. Ser Beritinus þe bald þai bretned to dethe, And Sampson on þis side was slay þar agaynys.
c. 1407. H. Scogan, Moral Ballad, 158. Seeth, there ayenst, how vertuous noblesse … Dryveth away al vyce.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 141. Of the wynde comyth good…. But ther ayeynes dyuers Perillis … and destourbaunce fallyth.
1558. Phaer, Æneid, II. E iv b. In his purpose still he fixt remainyd fast. We therageinst with streaming teares.
3. In pressure or impact against that.
1863. Sala, in Temple Bar Mag., VII. 496. From the bobbing and rasping of watch-spring crinolines there-against.
1884. C. T. Davis, Manuf. Bricks & Tiles, etc., ix. (1889), 285. Its ends are passed through the side pieces of the frame and tightened there-against by nuts.
