AVERSE

antipathetic, antipathetical, averse, indisposed, loath, loth

(adjective) (usually followed by ‘to’) strongly opposed; “antipathetic to new ideas”; “averse to taking risks”; “loath to go on such short notice”; “clearly indisposed to grant their request”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

averse (comparative more averse, superlative most averse)

Having a repugnance or opposition of mind.

Synonyms: disliking, disinclined, fromward, unwilling, reluctant, loath

Turned away or backward.

(obsolete) Lying on the opposite side (to or from).

(heraldry) Turned so as to show the back, as of a right hand.

Usage notes

• The terms adverse and averse are sometimes confused, though their 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".

Averse from is an older form, corresponding to the modern averse to.

Verb

averse (third-person singular simple present averses, present participle aversing, simple past and past participle aversed)

(transitive, obsolete, rare) To turn away.

Anagrams

• Reaves, Seaver, Varese, as ever, re-save, reaves, resave

Source: Wiktionary


A*verse", a. Etym: [L. aversus, p. p. of avertere. See Avert.]

1. Turned away or backward. [Obs.] The tracks averse a lying notice gave, And led the searcher backward from the cave. Dryden.

2. Having a repugnance or opposition of mind; disliking; disinclined; unwilling; reluctant. Averse alike to flatter, or offend. Pope. Men who were averse to the life of camps. Macaulay. Pass by securely as men averse from war. Micah ii. 8.

Note: The prevailing usage now is to employ to after averse and its derivatives rather than from, as was formerly the usage. In this the word is in agreement with its kindred terms, hatred, dislike, dissimilar, contrary, repugnant, etc., expressing a relation or an affection of the mind to an object.

Syn.

– Averse, Reluctant, Adverse. Averse expresses an habitual, though not of necessity a very strong, dislike; as, averse to active pursuits; averse to study. Reluctant, a term of the of the will, implies an internal struggle as to making some sacrifice of interest or feeling; as, reluctant to yield; reluctant to make the necessary arrangements; a reluctant will or consent. Adverse denotes active opposition or hostility; as, adverse interests; adverse feelings, plans, or movements; the adverse party.

A*verse", v. t. & i.

Definition: To turn away. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

3 May 2025

DESIRABLE

(adjective) worth having or seeking or achieving; “a desirable job”; “computer with many desirable features”; “a desirable outcome”


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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