adversity

Noun

adversity (usually uncountable, plural adversities)

1. (usually) The state of adverse conditions; state of misfortune or calamity.
   • The doctor loved the squire, loved him as his oldest friend; but he loved him ten times better as being in adversity than he could ever have done had things gone well at Greshansbury in his time.1858, Anthony Trollope, Doctor Thorne, Read Books, published 2008, →ISBN, Chapter III, page 55
   • God approves all adversity. Not all adversity that the Christian encounters is due to sins in the Christian's life. Not all adversity is the fault of the Christian.2007, Earl Crouch, “When Adversity Strikes”, in Do You Know?, PublishAmerica, →ISBN, page 60

   Synonyms:

   mischance, misluck, adverseness, bad cess, bad luck, disadventure, hard luck, ill luck, illfare, misadventure

2. (countable, usually) An event that is adverse; calamity.
   • Having “secret notice,” the writer of “True Remembrances” declares of the above complains, he retired into Munster, intending to proceed to England, to justify himself; but was detained there for want of money by the breaking out of rebellion. This adversity befell him in the autumn of 1598.1859 September, “The Great Earl of Cork”, in The Dublin University Magazine: A Literary and Political Journal, volume LIV, Alex Thom & Sons, page 326
   • Every family is struck by adversity at one time or another. No matter how mature the patients are, regardless of the care an advantages they give their children, despite a desirable interactive love between family members, adversity will attack any family1977, Genevieve Burton, “Family Adversity and the Nurse”, in Interpersonal Relations: A Guide for Nurses, 4th edition, Routledge, published 1979, →ISBN, page 101

   Synonyms:

   nakba

   Antonyms:

   fortuity