averse

adverse, averse

These two words both come from the Latin word vertere ‘to turn’, but averse (= turning away) means ‘opposed to’ and is typically used in negative contexts of people, whereas adverse (= turning towards, hostilely) is used of things and means ‘opposing one's interests; unfavourable’ (adverse circumstances, adverse weather conditions) or even ‘harmful’ (the adverse effects of drugs):

• The creation of a large source of illegal income has serious adverse consequences —Mirror, 2007

• This proud, but humiliated, most complicated of politicians was not averse to flattery —M. Almond, 1992.

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averse

1. averse, aversion.

Both words are followed by to, despite arguments (notably by Dr Johnson, challenged at some length in the OED) that from should be used. Examples:

• Nor was he averse to being reminded of Calcutta —Anita Desai, 1988

• Vic wasn't averse to keeping Everthorpe guessing whether he and Robyn Penrose were having an affair —David Lodge, 1988

• Dr Mainwaring's prescription had not cured her aversion from the prospect of becoming hopelessly senile in the company of people who knew her —Kingsley Amis, 1974

• He had a lifelong aversion to British officialdom —John Le Carré, 1989.

2. averse, adverse.

See adverse.