PERVERSE


Meaning of PERVERSE in English

pərˈvərs, pəˈvəs, pəˈvəis, ˈpərˌv-, ˈpəˌv-, ˈpəiˌv- adjective

Etymology: Middle English pervers, from Latin perversus, from past participle of pervertere to turn the wrong way, destroy, corrupt, pervert — more at pervert

1.

a. : turned away from what is right or good : corrupt , wicked

the only righteous in a world perverse — John Milton

b. : contrary to accepted standards or practice : incorrect , improper

felt it perverse that a bondman's son should be made a bishop — G.G.Coulton

c. of a verdict : contrary to the evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law

2.

a. : stubborn, obstinate, and persistent by temperament and disposition in opposing what is right, reasonable, correct, or accepted : wrongheaded

a dual nature, one half positive, and passionate to yearning, one half negative, satirical, and really perverse — H.S.Canby

certain matters of fact which not even the most perverse of … clerks could disguise — F.M.Stenton

b. : arising from or indicative of stubbornness or obstinacy

will gain nothing by keeping it except a possible perverse satisfaction in doing so — Hervey Allen

3. obsolete : adverse , unfavorable

4. : marked by peevishness or petulance : cranky

if thou thinkest I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse — Shakespeare

5.

a. : relating to, characterized by, or resulting from a perverted disposition or inclination

the last perverse whim which has taken possession of the debauchee — J.W.Krutch

b. : suffering from a perversion

Synonyms: see contrary

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.