Etymologically
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adverse

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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

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