ADVERSE

adverse, contrary

(adjective) in an opposing direction; “adverse currents”; “a contrary wind”

adverse, inauspicious, untoward

(adjective) contrary to your interests or welfare; “adverse circumstances”; “made a place for themselves under the most untoward conditions”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

adverse (comparative adverser, superlative adversest)

Unfavorable; antagonistic in purpose or effect; hostile; actively opposing one's interests or wishes; contrary to one's welfare; acting against; working in an opposing direction.

Opposed; contrary; opposing one's interests or desire.

(not comparable) Opposite; confronting.

Usage notes

Adverse is sometimes confused with averse, though the meanings are somewhat different. Adverse most often refers to things, denoting something that is in opposition to someone's interests — something one might refer to as an adversity or adversary — (adverse winds; an attitude adverse to our ideals). Averse usually refers to people, and implies one has a distaste, disinclination, or aversion toward something (a leader averse to war; an investor averse to risk taking). Averse is most often used with "to" in a construction like "I am averse to…". Adverse shows up less often in this type of construction, describing a person instead of a thing, and should carry a meaning of "actively opposed to" rather than "has an aversion to".

Anagrams

• Deavers, Deveras, aversed, dreaves, evaders, re-saved, resaved, veredas

Source: Wiktionary

Ad"verse, a. Etym: [OE. advers, OF. avers, advers, fr. L. adversus, p. p. advertere to turn to. See Advert.]

1. Acting against, or in a contrary direction; opposed; contrary; opposite; conflicting; as, adverse winds; an adverse party; a spirit adverse to distinctions of caste.

2. Opposite. "Calpe's adverse height." Byron.

3. In hostile opposition to; unfavorable; unpropitious; contrary to one's wishes; unfortunate; calamitous; afflictive; hurtful; as, adverse fates, adverse circumstances, things adverse. Happy were it for us all if we bore prosperity as well and wisely as we endure an adverse fortune. Southey. Adverse possession (Law), a possession of real property avowedly contrary to some claim of title in another person. Abbott.

Syn.

– Averse; reluctant; unwilling. See Averse.

Ad*verse", v. t. Etym: [L. adversari: cf. OF. averser.]

Definition: To oppose; to resist. [Obs.] Gower.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition