Antagonist \An*tag"o*nist\, n. [L. antagonista, Gr. ?; ? against
+ ? combatant, champion, fr. ?: cf. F. antagoniste. See
Antagonism.]
1. One who contends with another, especially in combat; an
adversary; an opponent.
Antagonist of Heaven's Almigthy King. --Milton.
Our antagonists in these controversies. --Hooker.
2. (Anat.) A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a
flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist of an
extensor, which extends it.
3. (Med.) A medicine which opposes the action of another
medicine or of a poison when absorbed into the blood or
tissues.
Syn: Adversary; enemy; opponent; toe; competitor. See
Adversary.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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