Final answer:
The term that describes a person who opposes, struggles against, or competes with another is typically 'rival' or 'antagonist'. In literature, an antagonist opposes the protagonist and does not necessarily need to be a person; it could also be a group, a nation, or a set of ideas. Word meanings can change over time, necessitating consideration of historical context when analyzing older texts.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another is commonly referred to as a rival or antagonist. In literary terms, the antagonist is the character or force that stands in opposition to the protagonist, who is the main character of the story. The term rival can also be used more broadly to describe competitors in various contexts, such as sports, business, or even competitive activities like video games. For example, in the context of a story like Hamlet, an antagonist might be a character like Claudius, who opposes the protagonist, Hamlet.
However, it is important to note that the meaning of words can evolve over time. In Early Modern English, the term rival might not have had the same connotation of competition it does today. This can be seen when analyzing texts from that period where the word might imply urgency rather than competition, like in the case where Barnardo urges Horatio and Marcellus to hurry. The nuances of historical language use require careful analysis to understand the intended meaning in specific contexts.