Grammar peeve

[magid]

There are two adjectives, and they do not mean the same thing.

There's adverse:

1. Acting or serving to oppose; antagonistic: adverse criticism.
   
2. Contrary to one's interests or welfare; harmful or unfavorable: adverse circumstances.
   
3. Moving in an opposite or opposing direction: adverse currents.
   
4. Archaic. Placed opposite.

[Middle English, from Old French advers, from Latin adversus, past participle of advertere, to turn toward: ad-, ad- + vertere, to turn.]

And there's averse:
Having a feeling of opposition, distaste, or aversion; strongly disinclined: investors who are averse to taking risks.
[Latin versus, past participle of vertere, to turn away.]

Related, yes, definitely. But looking at the first definitions for each, adverse has to do with acting towards another, while averse has to do with one's own feelings. Which are not things that can be used interchangeably.


OK, and totally non-ranty: songs used in commercials: adverses.

Comments

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Sort of like sensual and sensuous: definitely related, but people can't seem to keep the two very different words straight.