Perverse — Per*verse , a. [L. perversus turned the wrong way, not right, p. p. of pervertereto turn around, to overturn: cf. F. pervers. See {Pervert}.] 1. Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
perverse — perverse, pervert, perverted 1. Perverse and perverted, both derived from the Latin root pervertere ‘to turn away’ (from what is normal or correct), are easily confused. Perverse means ‘stubbornly unreasonable’ (usually of actions or… … Modern English usage
perverse — I adjective bad, bad natured, bad tempered, base, bellicose, belligerent, boorish, bumptious, cantankerous, captious, churlish, contemptible, contrary, contumacious, contumelious, corrupt, corrupted, crabbed, cranky, cross, crusty, debauched,… … Law dictionary
perverse — (adj.) mid 14c., wicked, from O.Fr. pervers, from L. perversus turned away (from what is right), contrary, askew, pp. of pervertere to corrupt (see PERVERT (Cf. pervert) (v.)). The Latin word is glossed in Old English by forcerred, from pp. of… … Etymology dictionary
perverse — *contrary, restive, balky, froward, wayward Analogous words: *unruly, ungovernable, recalcitrant, refractory: *obstinate, stubborn, mulish, pigheaded, stiff necked: fractious, *irritable, peevish … New Dictionary of Synonyms
perverse — [adj] mean, ornery; troublesome abnormal, bad tempered, cantankerous, capricious, contradictory, contrary, contumacious, corrupt, crabby*, cross, degenerate, delinquent, depraved, deviant, disobedient, dogged*, erring, fractious, hard nosed*,… … New thesaurus
perverse — ► ADJECTIVE 1) showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave unacceptably. 2) contrary to that which is accepted or expected. 3) sexually perverted. DERIVATIVES perversely adverb perverseness noun perversity noun (pl. perversities) … English terms dictionary
perverse — [pər vʉrs′] adj. [ME pervers < OFr < L perversus, pp. of pervertere: see PERVERT] 1. deviating from what is considered right or good; wrong, improper, etc. or corrupt, wicked, etc.; perverted 2. persisting in error or fault; stubbornly… … English World dictionary
perverse — ● pervers, perverse adjectif et nom (latin perversus, de pervertere, pervertir) Qui est enclin à faire le mal et qui le tente par des moyens détournés : Un être pervers qui espère votre échec. Dont les instincts sexuels se manifestent par un… … Encyclopédie Universelle
perverse — adj. perverse to + inf. (it was perverse to behave like that) * * * [pə vɜːs] perverse to + inf. (it was perverse to behave like that) … Combinatory dictionary
perverse — [[t]pə(r)vɜ͟ː(r)s[/t]] ADJ GRADED: oft it v link ADJ to inf (disapproval) Someone who is perverse deliberately does things that are unreasonable or that result in harm for themselves. It would be perverse to stop this healthy trend...… … English dictionary
