adversary

& a. [In Fr. adversaire; Ital. avversario, fr. Lat. adversarius turned towards, opposed to adversus, part., adj., & prep. turned towards, opposite ad = to; versus turned, pa. par. of ver to = to turn.] A. As substantive: 1. One temporarily or permanently brought into antagonism with another, as in a battle, a lawsuit, a competition, or even a friendly game; an opponent. "And eek by witne yng of many a wight, That al was fals that sayde his adversarie." Chaucer: C. Т. , 13,609-10. "And do as adversaries do in law Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends." Shakesp. Taming of the Shrew, i. 2. let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us."-1 Sam. xxix. 4. 2. One who from having been brought in some way into antagonism with another, has become his secret or avowed foe. In a more general sense, an enemy, whether public or private. (Used also of the enemies of God.) "And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon."-1 Kings xi. 25. "Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame."Pa. cix. 29. "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces "-1 Sam , ii. 10. Applied in Scripture by way of eminence to Satan. IMG:content-0209.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Gen. Expre ing some opposition to, or at least some difference from or with. 2. Spec.: Pertaining to, resembling, or containing an adversative. "Two members of one and the same sentence connected with the adversative particle 'but.' " -Worth ington: Miscell ,, p. 4. Prof. Bain considers the Adversative terms as the second cla of Co-ordinating Conjunctions, the others being called Cumu lative and Illative . The adversatives place the second sentence or clause in some kind of opposition to the preceding one. There are three species or divisions in the cla : Ex clusive Adversatives (viz., not, but , else, otherwise), Alternative Adversatives (viz., either -or; whether-or; neither-nor), and Arrestive Adversatives (as but , but then , still, only, neverthele , and others). ( Bain : Higher Eng. Gram.) B. As substantive : Grammar: A word putting in more or le distinct opposition to each other the two por tions of a sentence between which it is placed. [See the adjective.] ǎd'-verse, a . [In Fr. adverse ; Ital. avverso; fr. Lat, adversus = turned to: ad =to; versus, pa. par. of ver to = to turn.] Shakespeare generally accents on the first syllable as is now done; but in the following pa age he does so on the second: "Though time seems so adverse, and means unfit." Shakesp. All's Well that Ends Well, v. L A. Ordinary Language: L. Of purely physical opposition : So turned towards a person as literally to stand in the way of his progre . Used (1) of anything in action against a person or thing. "One by storms annoyed and adverse winds." Words worth: Excursion, bk. iii, (2) Of what is simply opposite to a person or thing. "And Afric's coast and Calpe's adverse height," Byron: English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. II. Of opposition not purely physical. 1. Of persons or beings: Hostile, antagonistic, inimical, unpropitious. "Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength, Which they upon the adverse faction want." Shakesp. King Richard III ., v. 3. "The adherents of the ministers were victorious, put the adverse mob to the rout."- Macaulay Hist . Eng ., ch. xxiv. "E'er since our adverse fates decreed That we must part, and I must mourn." 2. Of things : Cowper: To Delia. (a) In opposition to the real or supposed welfare of; calamitous, afflictive. "What if he hath decreed that I shall first Be try'd in humble state, and things adverse : By tribulations, injuries, insults, Contempts, and scorns, and snares, and violence?" Milton: P. R. , bk. iii. (b) In its nature opposed to, incongruous or inconsistent with. "The benevolent spirit of the Christian morality is undoubtedly adverse to distinctions of caste."Macaulay: Hist . Eng ., ch. i. IMG:content-0210.png:[blocks in formation]