n. [ OE. ante, amete, emete, AS. æmete akin to G. ameise. Cf. Emmet. ] (Zool.) A hymenopterous insect of the Linnæan genus Formica, which is now made a family of several genera; an emmet; a pismire. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working ants, besides the males and females; the former are without wings. Ants live together in swarms, usually raising hillocks of earth, variously chambered within, where they maintain a perfect system of order, store their provisions, and nurture their young. There are many species, with diverse habits, as agricultural ants, carpenter ants, honey ants, foraging ants, amazon ants, etc. The white ants or Termites belong to the Neuroptera. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ant bird (Zool.), one of a very extensive group of South American birds (Formicariidæ), which live on ants. The family includes many species, some of which are called ant shrikes, ant thrushes, and ant wrens. --
Ant rice (Bot.), a species of grass (Aristida oligantha) cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas for the sake of its seed. [ 1913 Webster ]

. See Anti-, prefix. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Antæ [ L. ] (Arch.) A species of pier produced by thickening a wall at its termination, treated architecturally as a pilaster, with capital and base. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Porches, when columns stand between two antæ, are called in Latin in antis. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ n. [ Pref. anti- + acid. ] (Med.) A remedy for neutralizing acidity, especially of the stomach, as an alkali or absorbent. -- a. Counteractive of acidity. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

a. [ Pref. anti- + acrid. ] Corrective of acrimony of the humors. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] Pertaining to Antaeus, a giant athlete slain by Hercules. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'antagw`nisma, fr. 'antagwni`zesqai to struggle against; 'anti` against + 'agwni`zesqai to contend or struggle, 'agw`n contest: cf. F. antagonisme. See Agony. ] Opposition of action; counteraction or contrariety of things or principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ We speak of antagonism between two things, to or against a thing, and sometimes with a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools of philosophy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. antagonista, Gr. 'antagwnisth`s; 'anti` against + 'agwnisth`s combatant, champion, fr. 'agwni`zesqai: cf. F. antagoniste. See Antagonism. ] 1. One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our antagonists in these controversies. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) A substance which opposes the actions of another substance in the body, especially a drgu that counteracts the effects of another drug. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

Syn. -- Adversary; enemy; opponent; foe; competitor. See Adversary. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Opposing in combat, combating; contending or acting against; as, antagonistic forces. -- An*tag`o*nis"tic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

They were distinct, adverse, even antagonistic. Milman. [1913 Webster]