adverse

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈæd.və(ɹ)s/, /ədˈvɜ(ɹ)s/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English advers, borrowed from Old French advers (earlier avers),^[2][3][4] refashioned after Latin adversus (“turned against, facing; hostile”),^[4][2] the past participle of advertō (“to turn toward”),^[2][3] from ad (“to”) and vertō (“to turn”).^[2][5] Compare averse.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Contrary, opposing: the late 14th century in Etymonline, about 1385 in Barnhart (Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde);^[2][3] the OED's first quotation, for unfavourable or hurtful, is from about 1374.^[6]

Semantic evolution

Acting against, antagonistic is from about 1440,^[6] and opposite in position from 1623.^[6] The Old French word also meant unfriendly or foreign, as in gent avers, an infidel race.^[2] A verb adverse, to oppose, was used from 1393.^[6] The noun adversity is much older, from before 1200.^[3]

Timeline

• before 1200 – adversity.^[3]
• c. 1374 – unfavourable.^[6]
• c. 1440 – acting against.^[6]
• 1623 – opposite in position.^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Harmful or unfavourable; contrary to one's interests: adverse circumstances.
2. Acting against; hostile, antagonistic: adverse criticism.
3. Moving in the opposite direction: adverse winds.

Word family

• adversely
• adverseness
• adverse selection
• adverse possession

Related words

• adversary
• adversative
• adversity
• versus
• averse
• advert
• verse

Usage notes

Adverse is often confused with averse; adverse usually describes things, unwilling or disliking describes averse people.^[7][8]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
8. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins