Inverse
/ɪnˈvɜːs/noun
Opposite in position, order, or effect; reversed.
Did you know?Inverse comes from Latin in- plus vertere, the same ancient root behind words for turning, changing, and even verse — because a verse is a line that “turns” to the next line.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wer-
“to turn, bend”
Latin
Latin
vertere
“to turn, rotate, change direction”
Late Latin
Latin
inversus
“turned upside down, reversed”
Old French
Old French
inverse
“reversed, contrary”
Middle English
English
inverse
“reversed in order or relation”
Modern English
English
inverse
“opposite in position, order, or effect”