View synonyms for apposition

apposition

[ ap-uh-zish-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act of placing together or bringing into proximity; juxtaposition.
the addition or application of one thing to another thing.
Grammar. a syntactic relation between expressions, usually consecutive, that have the same function and the same relation to other elements in the sentence, the second expression identifying or supplementing the first. In Washington, our first president, the phrase our first president is in apposition with Washington.
Biology. growth of a cell wall by the deposition of new particles in layers on the wall. Compare intussusception ( def 2 ).

apposition

/ ˌæpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

a putting into juxtaposition
a grammatical construction in which a word, esp a noun phrase, is placed after another to modify its meaning
biology growth in the thickness of a cell wall by the deposition of successive layers of material Compare intussusception

Discover More

Derived Forms

ˌappoˈsitional, adjective

Discover More

Other Words From

appo·sition·al adjective
appo·sition·al·ly adverb

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of apposition¹

1400–50; late Middle English apposicioun < Late Latin appositiōn- (stem of appositiō ) < Latin apposit ( us ) ( apposite ) + -iōn- -ion

Discover More

Example Sentences

"The Alfar's Lament" is the early dawn, and is in apposition to "early morn," in the following line.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, the difference is not absolute; there are intermediary stages between apposition and intussusception.

From Project Gutenberg

The raw areas are brought into apposition with fine sutures.

From Project Gutenberg

He is thrown into too humbling an apposition with the author of Hamlet.

From Project Gutenberg

In apposition with some other nominative word, adding to the meaning of that word: "The reaper Death with his sickle keen."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

apposite appositive

Browse