adversative

[ ad-vur-suh-tiv ]

/ ædˈvɜr sə tɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR adversative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

expressing contrariety, opposition, or antithesis: “But” is an adversative conjunction.

noun

an adversative word or proposition.

Nearby words

adverbial phrase, advergame, adversarial, adversary, adversaryism, adversative, adversative asyndeton, adverse, adverse possession, adverse pressure gradient, adverse reaction

Origin of adversative

1525–35; < Late Latin adversātīvus, equivalent to adversāt(us) (past participle of adversārī to resist; see adverse, -ate¹) + -īvus -ive

Related forms

ad·ver·sa·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for adversative

Without the adversative, the colon is to be preferred: "Prosperity showeth vice: adversity, virtue."
The Verbalist|Thomas Embly Osmun, (AKA Alfred Ayres)
Another example is, "Only the star dazzles; the planet has a faint, moon-like ray" (adversative).
An English Grammar|W. M. Baskervill and J. W. Sewell
They accordingly emphasize the adversative idea, and are properly Subordinate Adversative Clauses.
New Latin Grammar|Charles E. Bennett
Then let him deliberately use the adversative but, and proceed to the discussion of B.
The Century Handbook of Writing|Garland Greever

But the conjunction is often omitted in copulative and adversative clauses, as in Sec.
An English Grammar|W. M. Baskervill and J. W. Sewell

British Dictionary definitions for adversative

adversative

/ (ədˈvɜːsətɪv) grammar /

adjective

(of a word, phrase, or clause) implying opposition or contrast. But and although are adversative conjunctions introducing adversative clauses

noun

an adversative word or speech element

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012