anti-rail
|an-ti-rail|
/ˌæn.tiˈreɪl/
against rails/railways
Etymology
'anti-rail' is a modern English compound formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with the noun 'rail' (English word denoting a rail or railway).
'anti-' entered English from Greek via Latin and French as a productive prefix meaning 'against'; 'rail' developed in English from Middle English 'rail(e)' referring to a bar or railing and came to mean railway/rail also in later usage. The compound 'anti-rail' is a contemporary formation using the productive prefix on the modern noun 'rail'.
The elements originally meant 'against' (anti-) and 'a bar/rail' (rail); combined in modern usage they specifically convey opposition to railways or rail infrastructure, a sense that developed with the growth of rail transport from the 19th century onward.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person, group, or movement that opposes railways or rail infrastructure; an instance of opposition to rails or rail transport.
The anti-rail in the town organized a series of protests.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
opposed to railways or to the use/installation of rails; expressing resistance to rail transport or rail infrastructure.
Local groups launched an anti-rail campaign to block the new line.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/18 07:45