1590s, "a turning away from;" 1650s in the figurative sense of "mental attitude of repugnance or opposition," from French aversion (16c.) and directly from Latin aversionem (nominative aversio), noun of action from past-participle stem of aversus "turned away, backwards, behind, hostile," itself past participle of avertere "to turn away" (see avert). Aversion therapy in psychology is from 1946.

"one who has violent aversion to or hatred of Negroes," 1864, from Negro + -phobe. Often pejorative.

"mental condition characterized by great depression, sluggishness, and aversion to mental action," 1690s, from Modern Latin melancholia (see melancholy).

"want of propensity, desire, or affection; slight dislike or aversion," 1640s; see dis- + inclination.

"a woman-hater, one who has an aversion to women in general," 1610s, from Greek misogynēs "woman-hater" (see misogyny).

"violent aversion to or hatred of Negroes," 1819, in U.S. Congressional debates over admitting slavery into Arkansas Territory, from Negro + -phobia.

"feeling of extreme aversion or detestation," 1650s; see abhorrent + -ence. OED recommends this form for "act or fact of abhorring," abhorrency (c. 1600) for "quality of being abhorrent."