v. & n.
v.tr. 1 turn (a person or thing) aside from its proper use or nature. 2 misapply or misconstrue (words etc.). 3 lead astray (a person, a person's mind, etc.) from right opinion or conduct, or esp. religious belief. 4 (as perverted adj.) showing perversion.
n. 1 a perverted person. 2 a person showing sexual perversion. perversive adj. pervertedly adv. perverter n.
[ ME f. OF pervertir or f. L pervertere (as PER-, vertere vers- turn): cf. CONVERT ]