/ ədˈvɜːsətɪv; NAmE -ˈvɜːrs-/ adjective
( grammar ) ( of a word or phrase ) expressing sth that is opposed to or the opposite of what has been said :
the adversative conjunction 'but'
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French adversatif , -ive or late Latin adversativus , from Latin adversari oppose, from adversus against, opposite, past participle of advertere , from ad- to + vertere to turn.