Adjacent Words

Adverse definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AD'VERSE, a. [L. adversus, opposite; of ad and versus, turned; from verto, to turn. See Advert. This word was formerly accented, by some authors, on the last syllable; but the accent is now settled on the first.]
1. Opposite; opposing; acting in a contrary direction; conflicting; counteracting; as, adverse winds; an adverse party.
2. Figuratively, opposing desire; contrary to the wishes, or to supposed good; hence, unfortunate; calamitous; afflictive; pernicious, unprosperous; as, adverse fate or circumstances.
ADVERSE, v.t. advers'. To oppose. [Not used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: contrary to your interests or welfare; "adverse circumstances"; "made a place for themselves under the most untoward conditions" [syn: adverse, inauspicious, untoward]
2: in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind" [syn: adverse, contrary]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French advers, from Latin adversus, past participle of advertere Date: 14th century 1. acting against or in a contrary direction ; hostile <hindered by adverse winds> 2. a. opposed to one's interests <an adverse verdict> <heard testimony adverse to their position>; especially unfavorable <adverse criticism> b. causing harm ; harmful <adverse drug effects> 3. archaic opposite in position • adversely adverb • adverseness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. (often foll. by to) 1 contrary, hostile. 2 hurtful, injurious. Derivatives: adversely adv. adverseness n. Etymology: ME f. OF advers f. L adversus past part. of advertere (as AD-, vertere vers- turn)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Adverse Ad"verse, a. [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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Adverse Ad*verse", v. t. [L. adversari: cf. OF. averser.] To oppose; to resist. [Obs.] --Gower.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Adverse decisions, conditions, or effects are unfavourable to you. Despite the adverse conditions, the road was finished in just eight months. ? favourable ADJ: usu ADJ n • adversely Price changes must not adversely affect the living standards of the people. ADV: ADV with v

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Contrary, opposing, counteracting, conflicting, head (as head wind). 2. Hostile, inimical, antagonistic, unpropitious, unfavorable, injurious, harmful. 3. Unprosperous, untoward, unlucky, unfortunate, calamitous, disastrous.

Moby Thesaurus

adversary, adversative, adversive, alien, antagonistic, anti, antipathetic, antithetic, antonymous, at cross-purposes, balancing, clashing, compensating, competitive, con, conflicting, confronting, contradictory, contradistinct, contrapositive, contrarious, contrary, contrasted, converse, counter, counteractive, counterbalancing, counterpoised, countervailing, cross, dead against, deleterious, detrimental, difficult, disaccordant, disadvantageous, discordant, discrepant, dissentient, enemy, eyeball to eyeball, fractious, hard, harmful, hostile, hurtful, impeding, in opposition, inconsistent, inimical, injurious, inverse, miserable, negative, noncooperative, not easy, obstinate, obstructive, obverse, opponent, opposed, opposing, opposite, oppositional, oppositive, oppugnant, overthwart, perverse, prejudicial, recalcitrant, refractory, repugnant, reverse, rigorous, rival, sinister, squared off, stressful, troublesome, troublous, trying, uncooperative, unfavorable, unfriendly, unpropitious, unsatisfactory, untoward, wretched