The word oppositor does not appear in most American English dictionaries, but it does appear in the Oxford Living Dictionary. Please, is it obsolete, archaic, or only in British usage?
1 Answer
It is an archaic uncommon literary term; as you can see from Ngram oppositor has never been common usage. Opponent is the more commonly used term. It appears that John Florio (of Italian origin) used the term first.
- Late 16th century; earliest use found in John Florio (1553–1625), author and teacher of languages. From classical Latin opposit-, past participial stem of oppōnere to set against + -or, probably after post-classical Latin oppositor, Italian oppositore, or Middle French, French † oppositeur.
(ODO)