adversative
[ad-vur-suh-tiv]
- expressing contrariety, opposition, or antithesis: “But” is an adversative conjunction.
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- an adversative word or proposition.
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Origin of adversative
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for adversative
Historical Examples of adversative
Then let him deliberately use the adversative but, and proceed to the discussion of B.
The Century Handbook of WritingGarland Greever
They accordingly emphasize the adversative idea, and are properly Subordinate Adversative Clauses.
New Latin GrammarCharles E. Bennett
Without the adversative, the colon is to be preferred: "Prosperity showeth vice: adversity, virtue."
The VerbalistThomas Embly Osmun, (AKA Alfred Ayres)
Another example is, "Only the star dazzles; the planet has a faint, moon-like ray" (adversative).
An English GrammarW. M. Baskervill and J. W. Sewell
But the conjunction is often omitted in copulative and adversative clauses, as in Sec.
An English GrammarW. M. Baskervill and J. W. Sewell
adversative
- (of a word, phrase, or clause) implying opposition or contrast. But and although are adversative conjunctions introducing adversative clauses
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- an adversative word or speech element
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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