adversārĭus, a, um, adj. [adversus].
I Turned toward one or lying before one's eyes; hence, adversārĭa , ōrum (sc. scripta), in mercantile language, a book at hand in which all matters are entered temporarily as they occur , a waste-book , day-book , journal , memoranda , etc.: Quid est quod neglegenter scribamus adversaria? quid est. quod diligenter conficiamus tabulas? Qua de causa? Quia haec sunt menstrua, illae sunt aeternae: haec delentur statim, illae servantur sancte, etc., Cic. Rosc. Com. 2, 5 and 7.
II Standing opposite or opposed to one , as an antagonist , in any kind of contest , in which the contending parties may be the best friends , e. g. in elections, auctions, discussions , etc. (cf. Doed. Syn. 4, 395; in gen., only of persons, while contrarius is used of things, Front. Differ. 2198 P.).
A Adj. : tribunus seditiosis adversarius, Cic. Clu. 34, 94: vis juri adversaria, id. Caecin. 5: opinio oratori, id. de Or. 2, 37: duces, id. Phil. 3, 8: populus, adversarius, invidus etiam potentiae, in hostile opposition to those in power , Nep. Timo th. 3: factio, id. Phoc. 3: frater, Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 63 al.—
B Subst.: adversārĭus , i, m., an antagonist , opponent , adversary , an enemy , rival (the most usual class. signif. of the word): valentiorem nactus adversarium, Plaut. Capt. prol. 64: injuria adversariūm, Ter. Hec. 23; cf. id. Ad. 2: tribuni plebis illius adversarii, defensores mei, Cic. Mil. 15; so id. Quint. 2; id. Vatin. 1; id. Har. Resp. 16, 24; Nep. Dion. 7; Hor. S. 1, 9, 75.—Of wrestlers and other athletae: pugiles etiam cum feriunt adversarium ... ingemiscunt, Cic. Tusc. 2, 23, 56; also, in auctions, of opposing bidders: res major est quam facultates nostrae praesertim adversario et cupido et locuplete, Cic. Att. 12, 43; cf. id. ib. 13, 31.—In Cic. also in the fem. : adversārĭa , ae: est tibi gravis adversaria constituta et parata, incredibilis quaedam exspectatio, id. Fam. 2, 4, 2; and in the neutr. plur. : adversārĭa , ōrum, the arguments , assertions of the antagonist , Cic. Or. 35, 122.☞ The histt. more freq. than Cic. and Hor. use adversarius like hostis for an enemy in war : adversarios in fuga esse, Nep. Them. 4: multitudo adversariorum, id. Dat. 6: montem occupat, ne forte cedentibus adversariis receptui foret, Sall. J. 50; Suet. Caes. 30, 36, 68; id. Dom. 1; Curt. 3, 11; Vulg. Deut. 20, 4; Aur. Vict. Vir. Illustr. 75, 8; 69, 2; cf. advosem in Fest. p. 25 Müll.