anti-war
UK[ˌænti ˈwɔː(r)]US[ˌænti ˈwɔːr, ˌæntaɪ ˈwɔːr]
adj
Opposed to war or to a particular war.
Morpheme Breakdown
anti
war
anti
against
war
war
Etymology
The word 'anti-war' is a modern English compound formed by directly combining the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' with the Germanic noun 'war'. The prefix 'anti-', entering English via Latin and French, carries its core Greek meaning of 'opposed to' or 'against'. The noun 'war' has a complex history, tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root concerned with confusion and strife, which evolved into the Old North French 'werre' before being adopted into Middle English. The compound's logic is transparently literal, describing a stance or position that is in opposition to the concept or practice of warfare.
Analysis
Structure: anti (against) + war (war)
- anti: From Greek, via Latin and French. A prefix meaning 'against', 'opposite of', or 'rivaling'.
- war: From Old North French 'werre', of Germanic origin. A noun meaning 'armed conflict'.
Examples
The campus was a center for anti-war protests during the 1960s.
She is a prominent anti-war activist and author.
The film takes a strongly anti-war stance.