Adverse Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Adverse.

Adverse (adjective)

In legal situations, 'adverse' often refers to something contrary, opposing, or harmful. For example, in property law, ‘adverse possession’ involves occupying someone else's property for a long enough period under certain conditions. Within the context you provided, 'adverse' is describing a process which may negatively impact the shore or bank of a river due to the gradual addition of earth through natural water forces, often leading to issues of land ownership or environmental damage. It implies a subtleness to this process, where no one can specifically measure or observe the exact amount of earth added at any given moment.