Also 7 avers. [ad. L. āversus, pa. pple. of āvertĕre to AVERT. Cf. OF. avers, in which L. āversus and adversus seem to have combined.] A. adj.
† 1. Turned away, averted; turned in the backward or reverse direction. Obs.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., 90. Two faces averse, and conjoined Janus-like.
1697. Dryden, Virgil (1806), III. 274. The tracks averse a lying notice gave.
1703. Rowe, Fair Penit., I. i. 109. With looks averse and Eyes that froze me.
† b. quasi-adv. = AVERSELY 1. Obs.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 440. The hair [of the Oryx] groweth averse … forward toward his head.
1610. Gwillim, Heraldry, III. xiii. (1660), 161. If the Horse be not mounted, he fights averse.
1814. Cary, Dante (Chandos), 238. That star, which views Now obvious, and now averse, the sun.
† 2. Lying on the opposite side. Obs.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 67. On the Coast averse From entrance or cherubic watch … Found unsuspected way.
† 3. In the rear, behind. (So in L.) Obs.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. i. 107. The situation of the genitalls is averse.
4. Turned away in mind or feeling; actuated by repugnance; habitually opposed, disinclined.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, I. xxvi. And of a spirit averse, and overthwart.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1461. Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh.
1744. Harris, Three Treat., III. II. (1765), 233. That Law … which leads the Willing, and compels the Averse.
b. Const. from, to.
The use of the prep. to, rather than from, after averse and its derivatives, although condemned by Johnson as etymologically improper, is justified by the consideration that these words express a mental relation analogous to that indicated by hostile, contrary, repugnant, hostility, opposition, dislike, and naturally take the same construction. Aversion in the sense of an action, which would properly be followed by from, is now obsolete. Examination of many instances shows that from has been used by Donne, Speed, R. Burton, Milton, Bp. Mountagu, Sir T. Browne, Evelyn, Hale, Dryden, Pope, Johnson, Southey, Motley, Lowell, and J. R. Green; to by Heylin, Walton, Boyle, Locke, South, Addison, Steele, De Foe, D. North, Richardson, H. Walpole, Gibbon, Burke, Buckle, Mill; whilst Sir E. Sandys, Jer. Taylor, Barrow, Clarendon, Swift, Hume, Macaulay have used both. Shakespeare does not use the word.
1611. Bible, Micah ii. 8. As men auerse from warre.
1639. Rouse, Heav. Univ., viii. (1702), 105. Make thee averse to God’s teaching.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxiii. 75. Licentious tyrants … equally averse from peace and from freedom.
a. 1771. Gray, Poems (1775), 7. What Cat’s averse to fish?
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 32. He had been averse to extreme courses.
1876. Green, Short Hist., iv. § 3 (1882), 175. His impulses were generous, trustful, averse from cruelty.
c. with inf. Disinclined, unwilling, reluctant.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. viii. 198. We are not averse to acknowledge, that some may distill … into the winde-pipe.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), II. XII. 83. Averse at this time to declare herself openly.
1864. R. Burton, Dahome, I. 8. Even the grass is, from idless, averse to wave.
† 5. Of things: Of opposed nature, adverse. Obs.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, II. i. Tell me rather That the earth moves; the sun and stars stand still; Or anything that is averse to nature.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xviii. 91. What Opinions and Doctrines are averse, and what conducing to Peace.
1657–83. Evelyn, Hist. Relig. (1850), I. 217. Whatever prejudices ill education … or other averse accidents may have produced.
† B. sb. The back, the hinder part (so L. āversum); the reverse of a coin. Obs.
1654. L’Estrange, Chas. I., 122. Before fortune had ever forsaken him, or shewed him her averse.
1658. W. Burton, Itin. Anton., 58. A Coyn of Severus in the averse of which we read: [etc.].
