Word of the Day: Adversary

Word of the Day : April 18, 2019

adversary \AD-ver-sair-ee\ noun

Definition

: one that contends with, opposes, or resists : an enemy or opponent

Did You Know?

If you've ever had someone turn on you and become your adversary, you've inadvertently lived out the etymology of adversary. The word is from the Latin adjective adverāsarius ("turned toward" or "antagonistic toward"), which in turn can be traced back to the verb advertere, meaning "to turn toward." Advertere itself derives from ad- and vertere ("to turn"), and vertere is the source of a number of English words. Along with obvious derivatives, like inadvertent and adverse, are some surprises, including anniversary, vertebra, and prose—the last of which traces back to the Latin prosus, a contraction of proversus, the past participle of provertere ("to turn forward").

Aired April 18, 2019

All Merriam-Webster content is available at www.merriam-webster.com