1. One involved in a struggle or competition. 2.Physiology A contracting muscle that is resisted or counteracted by another muscle, the antagonist. 3.Biochemistry A drug or other chemical that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiologic reaction typical of a naturally occurring substance.
ETYMOLOGY:
Late Latin agnista, contender, from Greek agnists, from agn, contest. See agony.
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nista, contender, from Greek ag
s, from ag
