Adversariness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being opposed or hostile to someone or something involves conflict or contradiction in ideas, actions, or interests
2. A condition characterized by opposition or resistance that often creates challenges in interactions, relationships, or situations
3. The quality of being adversarial, marked by opposition or hostility that can affect relationships and lead to conflict

Etymology: "Adversariness" is simply "adversary" with the suffix "-ness" added, the same suffix that turns "kind" into "kindness" or "bright" into "brightness." The suffix comes from Old English "-nes," which formed nouns expressing a quality or state, so the result names the condition of being adversarial rather than any particular act of opposition. The base word, "adversary," reaches English through Anglo-Norman and Old French "adversaire," from Latin "adversarius," meaning an opponent or someone on the opposite side, built from "adversus," "turned against." The Latin root is the same one behind "adverse" and "adversity," so the family of words all shares a sense of facing or turning toward what resists you.

Synonyms: hostility, antagonism

Antonyms: friendliness