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7 dictionary results for: adverse
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ad·verse
[ad-vurs, ad-vurs] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[ad-vurs, ad-vurs] Pronunciation Key –adjective
| 1. | unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect: adverse criticism. |
| 2. | opposing one's interests or desire: adverse circumstances. |
| 3. | being or acting in a contrary direction; opposed or opposing: adverse winds. |
| 4. | opposite; confronting: the adverse page. |
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < AF, OF advers < L adversus hostile (ptp. of advertere), equiv. to ad- ad- + vert- turn + -tus ptp. suffix, with -tt- > -s-
]
] —Related forms
ad·verse·ly, adverb
ad·verse·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1. hostile, inimical, unfriendly. 2. unfavorable; unlucky, unfortunate; disastrous, calamitous, catastrophic. See contrary.
—Antonyms 1–3. favorable.
—Usage note The adjectives adverse and averse are related both etymologically and semantically, each having “opposition” as a central sense. Adverse is seldom used of people but rather of effects or events, and it usually conveys a sense of hostility or harmfulness: adverse reviews; adverse winds; adverse trends in the economy. Related nouns are adversity and adversary: Adversities breed bitterness. His adversaries countered his every move. Averse is used of persons and means “feeling opposed or disinclined”; it often occurs idiomatically with a preceding negative to convey the opposite meaning “willing or agreeable,” and is not interchangeable with adverse in these contexts: We are not averse to holding another meeting. The related noun is aversion: She has a strong aversion to violence. Averse is usually followed by to, in older use occasionally by from.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| ad·verse
(ād-vûrs', ād'vûrs') Pronunciation Key
adj.
[Middle English, from Old French advers, from Latin adversus, past participle of advertere, to turn toward : ad-, ad- + vertere, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.] ad·verse'ly adv., ad·verse'ness n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
adverse
adverse
c.1374, from O.Fr. avers, from L. adversus "turned against," thus "hostile," pp. of advertere, from ad- "to" + vertere "to turn" (see versus).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| adverse | |
adjective | |
| 1. | contrary to your interests or welfare; "adverse circumstances"; "made a place for themselves under the most untoward conditions" |
| 2. | in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ad·verse
Pronunciation: ad-'v&rs, 'ad-"v&rs
Function: adjective
: opposed to one's interests : operating to one's detrimentadverse verdict>
Main Entry: ad·verse
Pronunciation: ad-'v&rs, 'ad-"v&rs
Function: adjective
: opposed to one's interests : operating to one's detriment
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Adverse
Ad"verse\, a. [OE. advers, OF. avers, advers, fr. L. adversus, p. p. advertere to turn to. See Advert.]1. Acting against, or in a contrary direction; opposed; contrary; opposite; conflicting; as, adverse winds; an adverse party; a spirit adverse to distinctions of caste. 2. Opposite. "Calpe's adverse height." --Byron. 3. In hostile opposition to; unfavorable; unpropitious; contrary to one's wishes; unfortunate; calamitous; afflictive; hurtful; as, adverse fates, adverse circumstances, things adverse. Happy were it for us all if we bore prosperity as well and wisely as we endure an adverse fortune. --Southey. Adverse possession (Law), a possession of real property avowedly contrary to some claim of title in another person. --Abbott. Syn: Averse; reluctant; unwilling. See Averse.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Adverse
Ad*verse"\, v. t. [L. adversari: cf. OF. averser.] To oppose; to resist. [Obs.] --Gower.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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