Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Medieval Latin
Origin: 'toward, against', from Latin vertere; VERSE

versus

 preposition
     
ver‧sus
1 v. British English vs. American English used to show that two people or teams are competing against each other in a game or court case:
the New York Knicks versus the LA Lakers
the Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade
2 used when comparing the advantages of two different things, ideas etc:
The finance minister must weigh up the benefits of a tax cut versus those of increased public spending.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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