Main Entry:

¹per·vert

Pronunciation:

\pər-ˈvərt\

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 : misdirect2 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