tr.v. sub·vert·ed, sub·vert·ing, sub·verts 1. To overthrow or destroy (a government or an established order or authority). See Synonyms at overthrow. 2. To undermine, overturn, or render ineffective (a rule or an established notion, such as a stereotype, for example). 3. To cause to serve a purpose other than the original or established one; commandeer or redirect: "a short, virus-like piece of DNA that replicates itself ... by subverting the cell's DNA replication machinery" (Richard Dawkins). 4. To undermine, mislead, or betray: "Willy's batch of unexamined dreams and aspirations confused, misled, and subverted him" (Joseph Badaracco). [Middle English subverten, from Old French subvertir, from Latin subvertere : sub-, sub- + vertere, to turn; see wer-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] sub·verter n. |
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