adversity definition

English

Etymology

From Old French adversité, from Latin adversitātem, the accusative singular of adversitās, from adversus, the perfect passive participle of advertō (“I turn toward”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ædˈvɝ.sɪ.ti/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ædˈvɜː.sɪ.ti/

• English (US)

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• Hyphenation: ad‧ver‧si‧ty

Noun

adversity (usually uncountable, plural adversities)

1. (uncountable) The state of adverse conditions; state of misfortune or calamity.
   • 1858, Anthony Trollope, Doctor Thorne‎^[1], Read Books, published 2008, →ISBN, Chapter III, page 55:

     The doctor loved the squire, loved him as his oldest friend; but he loved him ten times better as being in adversity than he could ever have done had things gone well at Greshansbury in his time.

   • 2007, Earl Crouch, “When Adversity Strikes”, in Do You Know?‎^[2], PublishAmerica, →ISBN, page 60:

     God approves all adversity. Not all adversity that the Christian encounters is due to sins in the Christian's life. Not all adversity is the fault of the Christian.

   • 1998, Karel Montor, et al, “Directing and Coordinating Operations”, in Karel Montor, editor, Naval Leadership: Voices of Experience‎^[3], 2nd edition edition, Naval Institute Press, →ISBN, Efficient and Professional Conduct, page 278:

     These are the people who will overcome the adversity, chaos, and destruction of combat and defeat the enemy in war.

2. (countable) An event that is adverse; calamity.
   • 1859 September, “The Great Earl of Cork”, in The Dublin University Magazine: A Literary and Political Journal‎^[4], volume LIV, Alex Thom & Sons, page 326:

     Having “secret notice,” the writer of “True Remembrances” declares of the above complains, he retired into Munster, intending to proceed to England, to justify himself; but was detained there for want of money by the breaking out of rebellion. This adversity befell him in the autumn of 1598.

   • 1977, Genevieve Burton, “Family Adversity and the Nurse”, in Interpersonal Relations: A Guide for Nurses‎^[5], Fourth edition edition, Routledge, published 1979, →ISBN, page 101:

     Every family is struck by adversity at one time or another. No matter how mature the patients are, regardless of the care an advantages they give their children, despite a desirable interactive love between family members, adversity will attack any family

   • 2006, Elizabeth Wissner-Gross, “Getting Your Kid off the Waiting List and into the School of His or Her Dreams”, in What Colleges Don't Tell You (and Other Parents Don't Want You to Know: 272 Secrets for Getting Your Kid Into the Top Schools‎^[6], Plume, published 2007, →ISBN, page 272:

     Make sure that your child’s adversity is really an adversity. Not having parents who can buy a new car upon your son’s sixteenth birthday is not an adversity. Being the only girl on the block who doesn’t own a designed handbag is not an adversity

Synonyms

• nakba

Antonyms

• (adverse event): fortuity

Related terms

• adverse
• adversely

Translations