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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Adversar(e, n. and adj. Also: adversar(e, adversair, adwersar(e; adverser. [L. adversārius, corr. to ME. and e.m.E. adversaire, -are (15–16th c.). Cf. Adversere, Adversour.]

A. n. An adversary, opponent.c1420 Wynt. iv. 1670 (off his adversaris ware fourty thowsand slayne). 1456 Hay I. 6/34 (adversare till thame that God lufis). a1500 Bk. Chess 2173 (to sla his adversar). 1513 Doug. x. viii. 38 (Turnus bownys towartis his aduersar). 1549 Compl. 25/13 (ilk man sal be adversair tyl his nychtbour). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 54/5 (a manifest aduersar to all schisme). a1578 Pitsc. I. 107/24 (to no les schame of his adwersaris). 1622-6 Bisset I. 259/7 (sic satisfactioun as his adverser will offer). 1626 Garden Worthies 118 (his adversars).1640 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 174 (adversars, which sought to slay him). Ib. 216 (thine adversars are gone).

B. adj. Adverse, opposing. Usually in party adversar.14.. Acts I. 377/2 (again his party aduersar). 1491 Acta Conc. 206/1 (my partij aduersare). 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 16 (towart the party aduersar). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 138/35 (on the side aduersare). 1549 Compl. 87/11 (baitht the parteis aduersaris). a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 32 (his adverser ennemeis). 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Ep. 3 (our aduersaire ministers). 1616 Highland P. III. 174 (my adversair pairtie).