AVERSE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Averse

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adjective

Averse adj.

Turned away or backward. (Obs.) "The tracks averse a lying notice gave, And led the searcher backward from the cave."

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

Synonyms: 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.

verb

Averse v. t. & v. i. To turn away. (Obs.)

See images of 'Averse'

Etymology of 'Averse'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Averse" Quotes from Famous Books

... that the friendly and discerning critic was Walter Scott. He continued to be her admirer until her early death; but these two, the greatest writers of fiction in their age, were never brought together. Both were home-loving people, and Miss Austen especially was averse to publicity and popularity. She died, quietly as she had lived, at Winchester, in 1817, and was buried in the cathedral. She was a bright, attractive little woman, whose sunny qualities are unconsciously ...

— English Literature - Its History and Its Significance for the Life of the English Speaking World • William J. Long

... United States, that government having given us no cause of offense,—to become the patrons of a revolution that has no cause, but the consequences of which may be boundless. To revolutions we are averse; and one of our governments exists in virtue of opposition to the party of disorder in Europe. You ask us to do that which would lessen the means of livelihood to millions of our people; for, granting that you should succeed, still there would necessarily be so great a ...

— Continental Monthly, Vol. I., No. IV., April, 1862 - Devoted To Literature And National Policy • Various

... it is tied up and bound beyond the possibility of release. Now this is far worse for a woman than it is for a man. A woman, unless she is an Asiatic and a slave, does not wish to be given up unasked. I found myself the property of one who was not only indifferent to me, but, as I plainly saw, averse to me. It was but natural that I should meet scorn with scorn. In your letters I could read between the lines, and in your cold and constrained answers to your father's remarks about me I saw how ...

— The Cryptogram - A Novel • James De Mille

... and they had actually made Staten Land together, the day preceding that on which we now bring the Oyster Pond craft once more upon the scene, and had closed so near as to admit of a conversation between the two masters. It would seem that Daggett was exceedingly averse to passing through the Straits of le Maire. An uncle of his had been wrecked there, and had reported the passage as the most dangerous one he had ever encountered. It has its difficulties, no doubt, ...

— The Sea Lions - The Lost Sealers • James Fenimore Cooper

... Lord Spencer Controversy touching Standing Armies Meeting of Parliament The King's Speech well received; Debate on a Peace Establishment Sunderland attacked The Nation averse to a Standing Army Mutiny Act; the Navy Acts concerning High Treason Earl of Clancarty Ways and Means; Rights of the Sovereign in reference to Crown Lands Proceedings in Parliament on Grants of Crown Lands Montague accused of Peculation Bill of Pains ...

— The History of England from the Accession of James II. - Complete Contents of the Five Volumes • Thomas Babington Macaulay

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