adversity

2 definitions found

adversity - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Adversity \Ad*ver"si*ty\, n.; pl. Adversities. [OE. adversite,
     F. adversit['e], fr. L. adversitas.]
     1. Opposition; contrariety. [Obs.] --Wyclif.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Adversity is not without comforts and hopes.
                                                    --Bacon.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Affliction; distress; misery; disaster; trouble;
          suffering; trial.
          [1913 Webster]

adversity - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  adversity
      n 1: a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers
           struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship" [syn:
           adversity, hardship, hard knocks]
      2: a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event; "a period marked
         by adversities"