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per·vert

(pər-vûrt)

tr.v. per·vert·ed, per·vert·ing, per·verts

1. To cause to turn away from what is right, proper, or good; debase: "yet another example of justice being perverted in an attempt to secure more convictions" (Economist).

2. To corrupt (someone) morally. See Synonyms at corrupt.

3. To interpret incorrectly; misconstrue or distort: an analysis that perverts the meaning of the poem.

n. (pûrvûrt′)

A person whose sexual practices or interests are considered abnormal or deviant.

[Middle English perverten, from Old French pervertir, from Latin pervertere : per-, per- + vertere, to turn; see wer-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

per·verter n.

per·verti·ble adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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