adversative

American  

[ad-vur-suh-tiv] / ædˈvɜr sə tɪv /

adjective

1. expressing contrariety, opposition, or antithesis.

   “But” is an adversative conjunction.

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noun

1. an adversative word or proposition.

adversative British  

/ ədˈvɜːsətɪv /

adjective

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

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noun

1. an adversative word or speech element

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• adversatively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of adversative

1525–35; < Late Latin adversātīvus, equivalent to adversāt ( us ) (past participle of adversārī to resist; see adverse, -ate ¹) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Companies that in the past had an adversative relationship with conservation groups have begun to take actions that are more than public relations.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the conjunction is often omitted in copulative and adversative clauses, as in Sec.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt

The word especially is used for a term of distinction, even in those places where the adversative but is not joined to it, as in Tit. i.

From The Divine Right of Church Government by Sundry Ministers Of Christ Within The City Of London by

And if in volunteering him directions how to proceed, she had any purpose adversative to his, her note was without meaning.

From The Black Baronet; or, The Chronicles Of Ballytrain The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by Carleton, William

Other words of an adversative nature are yet, however, nevertheless, only, notwithstanding, and still.

From Composition-Rhetoric by Brooks, Stratton D.

Related Words

• antagonistic