Characters, forces, or substances that actively oppose or compete with protagonists or main characters. In biology and medicine, refers to substances that block or counteract the action of other substances.
From Greek 'antagonistes' meaning 'competitor, rival,' from 'anti-' (against) + 'agonistes' (contestant, from 'agon' meaning contest). Entered English in the late 16th century through literary and later scientific usage.
The word 'antagonist' reveals the ancient Greek view that life is fundamentally competitive - derived from 'agon' meaning contest or struggle, the same root that gives us 'agony,' suggesting that opposition and suffering are intimately connected in human experience.
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