Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Perverse
Per-verse′
(pẽr-vẽrs′)
, Adj.
[L.
perversus
turned the wrong way, not right, p. p. of pervertere
to turn around, to overturn: cf. F. pervers
. See Pervert
.] 1.
Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.
The only righteous in a world
perverse
. Milton.
2.
Obstinate in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary.
To so
perverse
a sex all grace is vain. Dryden.
Syn. – Froward; untoward; wayward; stubborn; ungovernable; intractable; cross; petulant; vexatious.
Webster 1828 Edition
Perverse
PERVERSE
,Adj.
1.
Literally, turned aside; hence, distorted from the right.2.
Obstinate in the wrong; disposed to be contrary; stubborn; untractable. To so perverse a sex all grace is vain.
3.
Cross; petulant; peevish; disposed to cross and vex. I'll frown and be perverse, and say thee nay.
Definition 2024
perverse
perverse
English
Adjective
perverse (comparative perverser, superlative perversest)
- Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.
- Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary.
- 2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
- [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. […] Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, and that in several cases these bacteria were dividing and thus, by the perverse arithmetic of biological terminology, multiplying.
-
- (law, of a verdict) Ignoring the evidence or the judge's opinions.
Antonyms
Translations
Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
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Ignoring the evidence or the judge's opinions
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Derived terms
Anagrams
Latin
Participle
perverse
- vocative masculine singular of perversus
References
- perverse in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- perverse in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- Félix Gaffiot (1934), “perverse”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.