averse

[uh-vurs] /əˈvɜrs/

adjective

having a strong feeling of opposition, antipathy, repugnance, etc.; opposed:

He is not averse to having a drink now and then.

Origin

1590-1600; (< Middle French) < Latin āversus turned away, averted (past participle of āvertere), equivalent to ā- a-⁴ + vert- turn + -tus past participle suffix

Related forms

aversely, adverb

averseness, noun

Can be confused

adverse, averse (see usage note at adverse)

Synonyms

unwilling, loath. See reluctant.

Antonyms

inclined, eager.

Usage note

See adverse.

Examples from the web for averse

People are commonly observed to be “risk averse” in everyday life—that is, they reject better-than-fair gambles.
Transcending the cowboy-tale genre, this raucous romp should tickle bath-averse children everywhere.
It's not too hard, as long as you aren't averse to knocking a hole in the wall.
For the fish averse, there is buttermilk fried chicken.
It seems to make selective colleges much too risk averse in balancing equity and efficiency goals.
Not that the store is averse to commercially successful authors.
Both field and laboratory-based research are difficult, and grant agencies are risk-averse.
But I do see the problems inherent in fielding a diplomat so basically averse to, well, diplomacy.
This week's pizza recipes also make for a handy way to sabotage the picky habits of vegetable-averse kids.
They seem to know it all before they enter the class, and are not averse to telling you.

British Dictionary definitions for averse

averse

/əˈvɜːs/

adjective

(postpositive) usually foll by to. opposed, disinclined, or loath

(of leaves, flowers, etc) turned away from the main stem Compare adverse (sense 4)

Derived Forms

aversely, adverb
averseness, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin āversus, from āvertere to turn from, from vertere to turn

Word Origin and History for averse

adj.

mid-15c., "turned away in mind or feeling," from Old French avers and directly from Latin aversus "turned away, turned back," past participle of avertere (see avert). Originally and usually in English in the mental sense, while avert is used in a physical sense.