'oppose' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'opponere', where 'ob-' meant 'against' and 'ponere' meant 'to place'.

'opponere' changed into the Old French/Middle English forms such as 'opposer'/'opposen' and eventually became the modern English word 'oppose'.

Initially, it meant 'to place against' or 'to set against', and over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'to act against or resist'.