\A*gainst"\ (?; 277), prep. [OE. agens, ageynes, AS.
ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See
{Again}.]
1. Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the
   mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over.
         Jacob saw the angels of God come against him.
                                               --Tyndale.
2. From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in
   contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats
   against the roof.
3. In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment
   or of action; on the other side; counter to; in
   contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason;
   against law; to run a race against time.
         The gate would have been shut against her.
                                               --Fielding.
         An argument against the use of steam. --Tyndale.
4. By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to
   be ready for the time when. [Archaic or Dial.]
         Urijah the priest made it, against King Ahaz came
         from Damascus.                        --2 Kings xvi.
                                               11.
{Against the sun}, in a direction contrary to that in which
   the sun appears to move.