appose

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to place two things side by side or near each other, especially for comparison or contrast

   The geometer apposed the two figures to compare their corresponding sides.

2. 2
   verb

   to place one surface against or in contact with another

   The surgeon carefully apposed the edges of the wound before closing it.

Coined on the model of compose and suppose from Latin apponere ("put near, set beside"), from ad- ("to") + ponere ("put, place"). An older, now obsolete appose meaning "question" arose separately as a variant of oppose.

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