Meaning

noun an argument opposed to a proposal

verb deprive of by deceit

adverb in opposition to a proposition, opinion, etc.

originOrigin uncertain. Perhaps a clipping of Middle English acquerne, aquerne, ocquerne, okerne (“squirrel”), from Old English ācweorna, āqueorna, āquorna, ācurna (“squirrel”), from Proto-West Germanic *aikwernō, from Proto-Germanic *aikwernô (“squirrel”); or from its Old Norse cognate íkorni (“squirrel”), from the same ultimate source. Cognate with West Frisian iikhoarn (“squirrel”), Dutch eekhoorn…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0