Syn. — Adversary, Enemy, Opponent, Antagonist. Enemy is the only one of these words which
necessarily implies a state of personal hostility. Men may be adversaries, antagonists, or opponents
to each other in certain respects, and yet have no feelings of general animosity. An adversary may be
simply one who is placed for a time in a hostile position, as in a lawsuit, an argument, in chess playing,
or at fence. An opponent is one who is ranged against another (perhaps passively) on the opposing
side; as a political opponent, an opponent in debate. An antagonist is one who struggles against another
with active effort, either in a literal fight or in verbal debate.
Adversary
(Ad"ver*sa*ry) a.
1. Opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic. [Archaic] Bp. King.
2. (Law) Having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an adversary suit.
Adversative
(Ad*ver"sa*tive) a. [L. adversativus, fr. adversari.] Expressing contrariety, opposition, or
antithesis; as, an adversative conjunction (but, however, yet, etc. ); an adversative force. — Ad*ver"sa*tive*ly,
adv.
Adversative
(Ad*ver"sa*tive), n. An adversative word. Harris.
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.
Adverse
(Ad*verse") v. t. [L. adversari: cf. OF. averser.] To oppose; to resist. [Obs.] Gower.
Adversely
(Ad"verse*ly) adv. In an adverse manner; inimically; unfortunately; contrariwise.
Adverseness
(Ad"verse*ness), n. The quality or state of being adverse; opposition.
Adversifoliate
(Ad*ver`si*fo"li*ate Ad*ver`si*fo"li*ous) a. [L. adversus opposite + folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Having opposite leaves, as plants which have the leaves so arranged on the stem.
Adversion
(Ad*ver"sion) n. [L. adversio] A turning towards; attention. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Adversity
(Ad*ver"si*ty) n.; pl. Adversities [OE. adversite, F. adversité, fr. L. adversitas.]
1. Opposition; contrariety. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Adversity is not without comforts and hopes.
Bacon.
Syn. — Affliction; distress; misery; disaster; trouble; suffering; trial.
