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Webster 1913 Edition

Averse

A-verse′

,
Adj.
[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.
☞ 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′

,
Verb.
T.
&
I.
To turn away.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Averse

AVERSE

,
Adj.
avers'. [See Avert.] The literal sense of this word is, turned from, in manifestation of dislike. Hence the real sense is,
1.
Disliking; unwilling; having a repugnance of mind.
Averse alike to flatter or offend.
2.
Unfavorable; indisposed; malign.
And Pallas now averse refused her aid.
This word and its derivatives ought to be followed by to, and never by from. This word includes the idea of from; but the literal meaning being lost, the affection of the mind signified by the word, is exerted towards the object of dislike, and like its kindred terms, hatred, dislike, contrary, repugnant, &c., should be followed by to. Indeed it is absurd to speak of an affection of the mind exerted from an object. Averse expresses a less degree of opposition in the mind, than detesting and abhorring.
Milton once uses averse in its literal sense, with from, but it is not according to the English idiom.

Definition 2024

averse

averse

English

Adjective

averse ‎(comparative more averse, superlative most averse)

  1. Having a repugnance or opposition of mind.
    • 2004, Arthur Schopenhauer, chapter 2, in Essays of Schopenhauer:
      This is why the most eminent intellects have always been strongly averse to any kind of disturbance, interruption and distraction, and above everything to that violent interruption which is caused by noise; other people do not take any particular notice of this sort of thing.
    • 1885, E. T. A. Hoffmann, The Entail:
      “I assure you, cousin,” replied the old gentleman, “that the Baron, notwithstanding his unpleasant manner, is really one of the most excellent and kind-hearted men in the world. As I have already told you, he did not assume these manners until the time he became lord of the entail; previous to then he was a modest, gentle youth. Besides, he is not, after all, so bad as you make him out to be; and further, I should like to know why you are so averse to him.” As my uncle said these words he smiled mockingly, and the blood rushed hotly and furiously into my face.
  2. Turned away or backward.
    • Dryden
      The tracks averse a lying notice gave, / And led the searcher backward from the cave.
  3. (obsolete) Lying on the opposite side (to or from).

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".

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

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

  1. (transitive) To turn away.

Related terms

See also

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /a.vɛʁs/

Noun

averse f ‎(plural averses)

  1. (of rain) Shower.

Anagrams

Latin

Adjective

āverse

  1. vocative masculine singular of āversus

Etymology

From Latin aversus, past participle of avertere ‎(“to avert”)

Pronunciation

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