I. pərˈvər]t, pəˈvə̄], pəˈvəi], ˈpərˌv-, ˈpə̄ˌv-, ˈpəiˌv-, usu ]d.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English perverten, from Middle French pervertir, from Latin pervertere to turn the wrong way, destroy, corrupt, pervert, from per-, prefix denoting deviation + vertere to turn — more at per- , worth
1.
a.
(1) : to cause to turn aside or away from what is viewed as good or true or morally right : lead astray : corrupt
was accused of perverting youth
especially : to make a moral pervert of
(2) : to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or generally accepted : divert into what is wrong or incorrect or not normal or usual : misdirect
perverted the course of justice
were deliberately perverting to their ends essentially the same techniques — New Republic
b.
(1) : to make use of usually willfully in a wrong or improper way : divert to a wrong end or purpose : misuse
the idea is one that may easily deteriorate or be perverted — Lionel Trilling
(2) : to twist the meaning or sense of usually willfully : misinterpret , misconstrue , misapply
perverts some evidence and omits the rest — Norman Douglas
2. : to effect a symmetric exchange between the right and left parts of
an object as viewed in a plane mirror is perverted from its actual appearance
Synonyms: see debase
II. ˈpərˌvər]t, ˈpə̄ˌvə̄], ˈpəiˌvəi] sometimes pə(r)ˈv-; usu ]d.+V noun
( -s )
: one that has been perverted or that manifests or is given to some form of perversion especially sexual