perversity

[ Fr.per vers ité, from Lat.per versitatem, acc us. of per vers it as, from per versus, pa. par. of per ver to =to pervert (q. v.).] The qual ity or state of being perverse; perversene . "Some strange perversity of thought, That sway'd him onward with a secret pride." Byron: Lara , i. 17. per-ver-sive, a . [Lat. per versus , pa. par. of per ver to =to pervert (q. v.).] Tending to pervert, corrupt, or distort. per-vērt', v . t . & i. [French perverter , from Lat. per ver to =to overturn, to ruin; Sp. pervertir ; Port. perverter; Ital. pervert ere .) (PERVERSE.] A. Transitive : *1. To turn aside; to turn another way; to avert, to divert. "Let's follow him and pervert the present wrath He hath against himself. Shakesp.: Cymbeline, ii. 4. 2. To turn from the right; to lead astray; to cor IMG:content-0944.png:[blocks in formation] 3. To distort from the true end or purpose; to turn from the proper use; to misapply; to put to improper use. "Perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use." Milton: P. L. , iv. 203 *B. In trans.: To become a pervert; to go wrong; to take a wrong course.