adversar

Forms

adversar m (plural adversari, feminine equivalent adversară)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French adversaire, with Latin adversarius (“opponent”) as a second source: a learned borrowing.^[2][3][4][5] Tiktin and the DA give only the French source, Scriban only the Latin.^[6][7][8] The Latin word is formed from adversus (“turned towards, opposite”) with the suffix -ārius, and the adjective from ad- and versus, the past participle of vertō (“to turn”).^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Iorgovici put the form adversariu in his list of proposed new words in 1799;^[2][6] Tiktin's first record is in Cornelli, about 1832.^[2][6] MDA2 starts with Odobescu's writings (1887), where hunters should give their innocent adversari some respite.^[4][7]

Semantic evolution

From the start the word meant someone who fights against another person or an idea;^[2][6] Heliade-Rădulescu urged his readers to be adversari of their own faults.^[2][6] Maiorescu set adversari against inamici in political journalism, keeping the word for opponents of an opinion rather than enemies.^[7] MDA2 separates a party in a lawsuit, an enemy, a rival and an opponent of an idea;^[4][3] DEX adds the opponent in sport.^[4][3] The feminine adversară is recorded from 1859–1869 in Heliade-Rădulescu.^[2]

Timeline

• 1799 – adversariu in Iorgovici's list of proposed new words.^[2]
• c. 1832 – adversar in Cornelli.^[6]
• 1859–1869 – the feminine adversarie in Heliade-Rădulescu.^[2]
• 1887 – Odobescu's writings, the first record MDA2 gives.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. An opponent: a person who fights against another, competes with them, or opposes an idea; a rival.^[3][4]
2. (sports) The opposing player or team in a contest.^[3][5]
3. (law) The opposing party in a lawsuit.^[4]

Word family

• adversară

Related words

• advers
• adversitate
• adversativ
• Latin adversarius

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2011–), Dicționarul etimologic al limbii române (DELR), vol. I: A–B (2011), vol. II: C (2015–2018), București: Editura Academiei Române; continued online at delr.lingv.ro, p. s.v. advers
3. ^ a b c d e DEX (2009), Dicționarul explicativ al limbii române [Explanatory dictionary of the Romanian language], Bucharest: Editura Univers Enciclopedic, p. 16
4. ^ a b c d e f g Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2010), Micul dicționar academic, 2nd ed., 4 vols., București: Univers Enciclopedic Gold, p. 1, 20
5. ^ a b Marcu, Florin (2000), Marele dicționar de neologisme, București: Saeculum Vizual, p. s.v. adversar
6. ^ a b c d e f Tiktin, Hariton (2000–2005), Rumänisch-deutsches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., revised by Paul Miron and Elsa Lüder, 3 vols., Cluj-Napoca: Clusium, p. s.v. adversar
7. ^ a b c Academia Română (1913–1949), Dicționarul limbii române (DA), ed. Sextil Pușcariu, tom I (A–B, C, D–De) and tom II (F–I, J–Lojniță), București: Socec / Universul / Monitorul Oficial și Imprimeriile Statului; page scans at cflr-scans.solirom.ro, p. s.v. adversar
8. ^ Scriban, August (1939), Dicționaru limbii românești (etimologii, înțelesuri, exemple, citațiuni, arhaizme, neologizme, provincializme), Iași: Presa Bună, p. 74