adverse, averse

These two words both come from the Latin word vertere 'to turn', but averse (= turning away) means 'opposed to' and is typically used in negative contexts of people, whereas adverse (= turning towards, hostilely) is used of things and means 'opposing one's interests; unfavourable' (adverse circumstances, adverse weather conditions) or even 'harmful' (the adverse effects of drugs):

The creation of a large source of illegal income has serious adverse consequences—Mirror, 2007

This proud, but humiliated, most complicated of politicians was not averse to flattery—M. Almond, 1992.

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