averse

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Having a repugnance or opposition of mind.

   “I assure you, cousin,” replied the old gentleman, “that the Baron, notwithstanding his unpleasant manner, […] 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.”

2. 2
   adj

   Turned away or backward.

   The tracks averse a lying notice gave, / And led the searcher backward from the cave.

3. 3
   verb

   To turn away.

   […] and, in this panegyrick of the Teutonick blood, I have so prolixly insisted, not only to vindicate our own, as being a stream of the same, and to evince the nobility thereof, but withal to convince the folly of those wretches among us, who aversing ours do so much adhere unto, and dote upon descents from France and Normandy.

4. 4
   adj

   (usually followed by `to') strongly opposed

5. 5
   adj

   Lying on the opposite side (to or from).

6. 6
   adj

   Aversant; of a hand: turned so as to show the back.

Etymology

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