perverter

[Eng. pervert; -er.] One who perverts; one who turns things from their true or proper use, intent, or object; one who distorts, misapplies, or misinterprets. per-vērt-1-ble, a. [Eng. pervert; -able.] Capable of being perverted; liable to be perverted. *per-věs-ti-gāte, v . t . [Lat. perves tig at us , pa. par of per vest i go to trace or track out thoroughly; per thoroughly, and vestigo to trace.] [VESTIGE.] To find out by careful search or inquiry; to investigate thoroughly. *per-věs-ti-gā'-tion, subst . [Lat. pervestigatio , from perves tig at us , pa. par. of per vest i go =to per vest i gate (q. v.)] Diligent inquiry; thorough research or investigation. "The perves tig at i on of true and genuine text more firm or certain to be relied on." Chilling worth: Rel . of Protestants. *per-vi-al, adj . [Lat. pervius =pervious (q. v.), admitting of pa age.] Pervious, transparent, clear. "And yet all perv i all enough (you may well say) when such a one as I comprehend them."-Chapman: Homer's Iliad xiv. *per-vi-al-ly, adv . [Eng. pervial ; -ly .] In a pervious manner; so as to be pervious; transpar ently. "Which he doth, imagining his understanding reader's eyes more sharp than not to see pervially through them." -Chapman: Homer's Iliad , xiv. *per-vi-ca-cio us, a. [Lat. pervicax , gen it. per vicacis .] Very obstinate or stubborn; willfully contrary or perverse. "Why should you be so pervicacious now, Pug?"-Dryden: Limber ham , ii. 1. *per-vi-ca-cio us-lý, adv . [Eng. pervicacious ; -ly . In a pervicacious manner; stubbornly, perversely; with willful obstinacy. *per-vi-ca-cio us-ne , s. [Eng. pervicacious ; -ne .] The quality or state of being pervicacious; stubbornne ; willful obstinacy. ""Tis pervicacious ne to deny that he created matter also."-Bentley: Sermons, ser. 1. pine, pit, sire, sir, marine; gō, pot, IMG:content-0945.jpg:[blocks in formation] medicated. 2. Medicine: Medicine introduced along with the pěs-si-mişm, s . [Lat. pe im (us)=worst; Eng. -ism; Fr. pe imisme; Ger. pe imism us . ] induces one to give preponderating importance to I. Ord. Language: That mental attitude which the evils and sorrows of existence; the habit of taking a gloomy and desponding view of things. II. Hist . & Philos .: The name given to the system of philosophy enounced by Schopenhauer (1788- 1860) in Die Welt als Wille und Vors tel lung (of which the first volume was published in 1819, and the second some five-and-twenty years after), and by Von Hartmann in his Philosophie des Unbewu - ten (1860), though the feelings to which these writers gave utterance had previously a wide range both in time and space. The belief that the times are very evil" has found expre ion in almost every philosophic and religious system at one period or other of its existence. But it was at the beginning of this century that Pe imism began to create a literature of its own, and to impart a somber hue to the writings of men not avowedly its disciples. As examples may be cited Byron's Eu- than asia and Heine's Fragen . The adherents of this philosophy have for the most part belonged to the German races, Leopard i (1798-1837) being the sole Latin writer of note who has advocated pe imist theories. "In their special and technical employment, optimism and pe imism denote specific theories elaborated by philosophers the latter [to show] that existence, when summed up, has an enormous surplus of pain over pleasure, and that man in particular, recognizing this fact, can find real good only in abnegation and self-sacri- fice." Encyc. Brit . (ed. 9th), xviii. 684. A. As subst .: One who advocates or holds the doctrine of pe imism. Opposed to optimist (q. v.). B. As adj .: Holding the doctrine of pe imism. "Let our pe imist friends go there."-London Daily pěs-si-mist-ic, pes-si-mist-ic-al, a. [Eng. pe imist ; -ic, -ical .] "In the later times of Israel like those of the writer of Ecclesiastes, giving utterance to pe imistic doubt." -Encyc. Brit . (ed. 9th), xviii. 686. 2. Taking a gloomy or unfavorable view of mat- ters or events. pěs-sim-ize, v. i. [PESSIMISM.] To hold or advocate the opinion or doctrine of pe imism. *pěs-so-măn-çy, s. [Gr. pe os a small oval- shaped stone, used for playing a game like our Divination by means of pebbles. draughts, and manteia = prophecy, divination.] *pes-sur-a-ble, *pes-tar-ble, *pes-tar-a-ble, s . [Etym. doubtful.] Naut . ( of merchandise ): Taking up a good deal of room in a ship. ( Cowel .) pěst, s. [Fr. peste , from Latin pestem , acc us. of pest is a deadly disease, a plague; prob. connected with per do =to destroy; Sp., Port., & Ital. peste .]. *1. A plague, a pestilence; a deadly epidemic dis- ease; spec if., the plague (q. v.). Of England's sufferings by that scourge, the pest ." Cowper: Death of the Bishop of Winchester. IMG:content-0946.png:[blocks in formation] ing, burdensome, cumbersome. *pěs-ter-ous, a. [Eng. pester; -ous.] Pester- IMG:content-0947.jpg:[graphic] the Pestalozzians ."-R. H. Quick: Educational Reformers, p. 178. Pěs-ta-lõz-zi-an-işm (zzas tz), s. [Eng. Pesta- lozzian ; -ism .] IMG:content-0948.jpg:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0949.png:[blocks in formation] pestilential *4. Troublesome, mischievous. "A pestilent complete knave." -Shakesp .: Othello , ii. i. *5. Very disagreeable or unpleasant. "Most pestilent to the hearing." Shakesp.: Henry VIII ., i. 2. pěs-ti-len-tial (ti as sh), *pes-ti-len-ci-al, a. (French pest i len ciel ; Sp. & Port. pestilencial ; Ital. Destilenziale .] 1. Pertaining to or having the nature or qualities of a pestilence or plague; contagious. 2. Producing or tending to produce pestilence or contagious disease; pestiferous. "Sends the pestilential vapors." Long fellow: Hiawatha, ix. IMG:content-0950.png:[blocks in formation] "Such a pestilent i ous influence poisoned the time of my nativity." -Sidney: Arcadia , bk. iii. pěst-1-lent-ly, adv. [Eng. pestilent; -ly.] 1. In a pestilent manner; perniciously, mischievously. *2. Exce ively; in or to a very high degree. pěst-I-lent-ne , s. [English pestilent ; -ne .] The quality or state of being pestilent. *pěs-til-1-ty, *pes-til-i-tie, s. [Lat. pest i litas , from pestilis =pestilent.] A pestilence, a plague. "Pompon i us Letus and other Latine writers also making mention of the said pestilitie ." -Fox: Martyrs , p. 59. pes-til-lā-tion, *pis-til-lā-tion, subst . [Lat. pislillum a pestle (q. v.).] The act of pounding or bruising in a mortar. "They submit unto pistil lati on , and resist not an ordinary pestle." -Browne : Vulgar Errors , bk. ii., ch. v.