To contradict is to speak against, an antidote works against a poison and an obstacle stands in your way. Three prefixes carry the idea of “against”: Latin contra- (also contro- and counter-), Greek anti- and Latin ob-.
Key idea
contra-, contro-, counter- = against. anti- (Greek) = against, opposite. ob- = against, in the way, and sometimes toward.
ob- hides in many shapes: oc- (occur), of- (offend), op- (oppose). The list’s ob- words are mostly about stubbornness and blocking: obstinate, obdurate, obstruct. In obsequious, though, ob- means “toward”: following toward someone, too eager to please.
The parts and their words
Words taken apart
| Word and meaning | Parts, and what they say |
|---|---|
| controversy a long public disagreement | contro- against + vers turn + -y → “a turning against” |
| counterfeit made to look real in order to deceive | counter- in imitation of + feit made → “made as a copy” |
| antithesis the direct opposite | anti- against + thesis setting → “a setting against” |
| antipathy a strong dislike | anti- against + path feeling + -y → “a feeling against” |
| obstruct to block | ob- in the way + struct build → “build in the way” |
| obdurate stubbornly refusing to change, especially when one should | ob- against + dur hard + -ate → “hardened against” |
| obsequious too eager to please or obey | ob- toward + sequ follow + -ious → “following toward (too eagerly)” |
| antidote a remedy that works against a poison | anti- against + dote given → “given against” |
Worked example: Use the parts
The video of the play made the referee’s call incontrovertible. What does incontrovertible mean?
- Take it apart: in- (not) + contro- (against) + vert (turn) + -ible (able to be).
- Literally: “not able to be turned against,” no one can argue the other way.
- The sentence fits: the video settled it.
Answer: Beyond dispute.
Meet the word
Common mistake
Mixing up anti- (against) and ante- (before). An antidote works against a poison; an antecedent comes before. Also watch for ob- in disguise: oc-, of- and op- (occur, offer, oppose).
In counterfeit, counter- carries the idea of “set against” as a match or copy: a counterfeit coin is made to stand against the real one and pass for it.