Part 465

2. Having a repugnance or opposition of mind; disliking; disinclined; unwilling; reluctant.

Averse alike to flatter, or offend. Pope.

Men who were averse to the life of camps. Macaulay.

Pass by securely as men averse from war. Micah ii. 8.

The prevailing usage now is to employ to after averse and its derivatives rather than from, as was formerly the usage. In this the word is in agreement with its kindred terms, hatred, dislike, dissimilar, contrary, repugnant, etc., expressing a relation or an affection of the mind to an object.

Syn. -- Averse, Reluctant, Adverse. Averse expresses an habitual, though not of necessity a very strong, dislike; as, averse to active pursuits; averse to study. Reluctant, a term of the of the will, implies an internal struggle as to making some sacrifice of interest or feeling; as, reluctant to yield; reluctant to make the necessary arrangements; a reluctant will or consent. Adverse denotes active opposition or hostility; as, adverse interests; adverse feelings, plans, or movements; the adverse party.

A*verse", v. t. & i. To turn away. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

A*verse"ly, adv. 1. Backward; in a backward direction; as, emitted aversely.

2. With repugnance or aversion; unwillingly.

A*verse"ness, n. The quality of being averse; opposition of mind; unwillingness.

A*ver"sion (&?;), n. [L. aversio: cf. F. aversion. See Avert.] 1. A turning away. [Obs.]

Adhesion to vice and aversion from goodness. Bp. Atterbury.

2. Opposition or repugnance of mind; fixed dislike; antipathy; disinclination; reluctance.

Mutual aversion of races. Prescott.

His rapacity had made him an object of general aversion. Macaulay.

It is now generally followed by to before the object. [See Averse.] Sometimes towards and for are found; from is obsolete.

A freeholder is bred with an aversion to subjection. Addison.

His aversion towards the house of York. Bacon.

It is not difficult for a man to see that a person has conceived an aversion for him. Spectator.

The Khasias . . . have an aversion to milk. J. D. Hooker.

3. The object of dislike or repugnance.

Pain their aversion, pleasure their desire. Pope.

Syn. -- Antipathy; dislike; repugnance; disgust. See Dislike.

A*vert" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averted; p. pr. & vb. n. Averting.] [L. avertere; a, ab + vertere to turn: cf. OF. avertir. See Verse, n.] To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? "To avert his ire." Milton.

When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church. Bacon.

Till ardent prayer averts the public woe. Prior.

A*vert", v. i. To turn away. [Archaic]

Cold and averting from our neighbor's good. Thomson.