n.
Pronunciation: p ə r- ' v ə rt
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French purvertir, pervertir, from Latin pervertere to overturn, corrupt, pervert, from per- thoroughly + vertere to turn ― more at PER- , WORTH
Date: 14th century
1 a : to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : CORRUPT b : to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted : MISDIRECT
2 a : to divert to a wrong end or purpose : MISUSE b : to twist the meaning or sense of : MISINTERPRET
synonyms see DEBASE
– per · vert · er noun