▪ I.adverse,a.andn.|ˈædvɜːs|[a. MFr. advers, -e refashionedf.OFr.avers, auvers:—L. adversus turned towards, turned against, hostile,pa.pple.of advert-ĕre,f.ad to + vert-ĕre to turn. Poets have accented both ˈadverse and adˈverse.]A.adj.1.Acting against or in opposition to, opposing, contrary, antagonistic, actively hostile. Const. to.c1440Partonope 5716That to crystes lawe ys aduerse And leeveth on machoun.
1575ChurchyardChippes (1817) 12English volunteers served during those wars, in adverse armies.
1595Shakes.John iv. ii. 172When aduerse Forreyners affright my Townes.
1628DigbyVoy.toMedit.47The aduerse windes had hindered my designe of going.
1667MiltonP.L. i. 103His utmost power with adverse power opposed.
1798JeffersonWritings (1859) IV. 210The general spirit, even of the merchants, is becoming adverse to it.
1807CrabbePar.Reg.i. 805On life's rough sea they sail With many a prosperous, many an adverse gale.
1868HelpsRealmah viii. (1876) 239To go over to the side of their adverse critics.
b.Law.1858Ld.St.Leonards HandyBk.Prop.Law xxiii. 177What I may call adverse possession, which now is a possession by a person not the owner during a certain number of years without acknowledgment of the right of the real owner, and yet not necessarily in open defiance of him.
2.Opposing any one's interests (real or supposed); hence, unfavourable, hurtful, detrimental, injurious, calamitous, afflictive. Const. to.c1374ChaucerTroylus iv. 1192,O cruel Joue and thou fortune aduerse.
1490CaxtonEneydos i. 13But the prosperous fortune of the kynge pryam torned in to aduerse.
1601Shakes.All's Well v. i. 26Though time seeme so aduerse, and meanes vnfit.
1671MiltonSamson 192In prosperous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head.
1806–31A. KnoxRem. (1844) I. 96Strengthened instead of being shaken by adverse circumstances.
1867BrightSp.,Amer.(1876) 146The presidential election of 1860 was adverse to the cause of slavery.
3.Opposite in position.1623BinghamXenophon 77The Macrons..stood imbattled on the aduerse side of the riuer.
1753ChambersCycl.Supp.,Adversaria..so called because the notes were written on the adverse or opposite page.
1872BlackieLays of Highl. 167He looked upon the bright green slope, that skirts the adverse hills.
B.n.An adverse party, an adversary. rare.1850Blackieæschylus II. 183If Jove hath worsted This Typhon in the fight, we too shall worst Our adverse.
▪ II.†adˈverse,v.Obs.rare—1.[a. MFr. a(d)verse-r:—L. adversā-ri to be opposed,f.adversus adverse a.]To be opposed or adverse to, to oppose.1393GowerConf.I. 219It was a presage..Of that fortune him shulde adverse.
