Aversion

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈvɜːʒən/

Definitions

1. A strong feeling of dislike or opposition toward something or someone
2. A profound feeling of repulsion or strong dislike specifically aimed at certain people, objects, or scenarios
3. A deep-seated feeling of resistance or revulsion towards particular things, situations, or individuals

Etymology: The Latin "āversiō" was built from "āvertere," meaning "to turn away," which combined "ā" (away from) with "vertere" (to turn). The Latin noun described the act of turning away, so its original sense was physical and directional, a turning from something rather than a feeling about it. The same Latin root gave English "avert," "averse," and "diversion," all of which keep that core image of turning aside. English took the word directly from Latin as a learned borrowing, so it is a doublet of "aversio," meaning the two words descend from the same source but came into the language by different routes. The noun's emotional sense, a turning of the mind or will away from something, follows naturally from that physical picture of turning away, and it is this mental sense that dominates modern use.

Synonyms: dislike, distaste, antipathy, repulsion, hatred

Antonyms: liking, fondness, affection, admiration, attraction