Etymologically
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adversor

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [adˈwɛr.sɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [adˈvɛr.sor][1]

Forms

adversor (present infinitive adversārī, perfect active adversātus sum); first conjugation, deponent[1] The archaic spelling advorsor is also found.[2][3]

Etymology

It is a denominative verb from Latin adversus (“turned towards, opposite”),[2][1] the past participle of advertō (“to turn towards”), from ad- and vertō (“to turn”).[1] Wiktionary traces vertō to Proto-Italic *wertō and Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to turn”).[1] Cognate with Sanskrit वर्तते (vártate, “turns”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first example in the OLD is in Plautus, “am I to oppose the gods?”[2]

Semantic evolution

It means to act against someone's wishes, to oppose or resist, also by force, as in Cicero's letters, and in argument, as the Academy's custom of always opposing everyone in debate.[2] Pliny the Younger uses it of opposition in the courts.[2] Of abstract things it is to counteract or be unfavourable, and to be inconsistent with something, both in Cicero.[2] Pliny the Elder says cabbage is hostile to wine and radishes act against horned snakes and scorpions, and Tacitus uses it of a contrary wind.[2] Apuleius has it transitively, to oppress.[2] Lewis & Short note that it refers to opposition in opinions, feelings and intentions.[3] Church Latin glosses it “resist, oppose”.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of opposing the gods.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of opposing in argument and by force.[2][5]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of plants that counteract poisons.[2][5]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus of a contrary wind.[2][5]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius of oppressing.[2][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To oppose, resist, withstand; to oppose in argument or in court.[2][3][4][1]
  2. Of things, to counteract; to be inconsistent with.[2]
  3. Of plants and animals, to be hostile to; to act as an antidote.[2]
  4. Of wind or tide, to be contrary.[2]
  5. To treat with hostility, oppress.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de