versus English · revision 5991

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1447|origins=la versus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈvɜː.səs/, US /ˈvɝː.səs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-med|versus|t=against]], a Medieval Latin use of Latin [[m|la|versus|t=turned toward; towards]] in the sense of adversus “against”,^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) the past participle of [[m|la|vertere|t=to turn]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from the PIE root [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to turn, bend]].^(Etymonline) The noun [[verse]] comes from the same Latin.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Against, in law, of an action by one party against another: 1447–48 in the OED and Barnhart, the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its use widened from lawsuits to any contest, as in sport,^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002) and to the sense “as the alternative to, in contrast with”.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) It is abbreviated v. or, especially in American English, vs.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1447 – in law, against.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Against, especially in a [[lawsuit]] or a sporting contest: ''Smith versus Jones''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # As opposed to; in contrast with: ''quality versus quantity''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[graft-versus-host disease]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vertex]]

+ * [[subvert]]

+ * [[invert]]

+ * [[convert]]

+ * [[evert]]

+ * [[verse]]

+ * [[adverse]]

+ * [[reverse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}