pervert Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior
deviate; deviant; degenerate.
verb corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
debase; profane; misdirect; subvert; debauch; deprave; vitiate; corrupt; demoralise; demoralize.
- debauch the young people with wine and women
- Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
- Do school counselors subvert young children?
- corrupt the morals
verb practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive
twist; convolute; sophisticate; twist around.
- Don't twist my words
verb change the inherent purpose or function of something
misuse; abuse.
- Don't abuse the system
- The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers

F. pervertir, L. pervertere, perversum; per + vertere to turn. See Per-, and Verse.

imperfect & past participle Perverted; present participle & verbal noun Perverting

To turnanother way; to divert. Obs.
Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath. Shak.
To turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt; also, to misapply; to misinterpret designedly; as, to pervert one's words. Dryden.
He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve. Milton.

One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error, especially in religion; -- opposed to convert. See the Synonym of Convert.
That notorious pervert, Henry of Navarre. Thackeray.