adversative

Etymology

From Latin adversativus (“of conjunctions, expressing opposition”).

adj

  1. (linguistics) Expressing opposition or difference.
    In Matthew's Q-source, this short sentence may have been introduced by the strong adversative conjunction, "but" (alla). 1992, Raymond F. Collins, Divorce in the New Testament, page 155
  2. (linguistics) Expressing adverse effect.
    In an adversative causative, the "causer" has only a nominal status and is, in actuality, a victim of the situation ... 2002, Shoichi Iwasaki, Japanese, page 146
    This type of 'get-passive' typically bears adversative connotation, i.e. it is not used to express passives if the patient is not somewhat negatively affected by the event. 2004, Umberto Ansaldo, “The evolution of Singapore English”, in Lisa Lim, editor, Singapore English: A Grammatical Description, page 138
    The adversative passive sentence expresses that the subject of the sentence is affected, usually adversely, by what is expressed in the rest of the sentence. 2014, Naomi H. McGloin et al., Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide, page 114

noun

  1. (rare, dated) Something, particularly a clause or conjunction, which is adversative.

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