[syn: pervert, misuse, abuse]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pervert \Per*vert"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perverted; p. pr. &
vb. n. Perverting.] [F. pervertir, L. pervertere,
perversum; per + vertere to turn. See Per-, and Verse.]
1. To turn another way; to divert. [Obs.]
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Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath.
--Shak.
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2. 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 intentionally; as, to
pervert one's words. --Dryden.
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He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve. --Milton.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pervert \Per*vert"\, v. i.
To become perverted; to take the wrong course. [R.]
--Testament of Love.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pervert \Per"vert\, n.
One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error,
especially in religion; -- opposed to convert. See the
Synonym of Convert.
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That notorious pervert, Henry of Navarre. --Thackeray.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
pervert
n 1: a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable
especially in sexual behavior [syn: pervert, deviant,
deviate, degenerate]
v 1: corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; "debauch
the young people with wine and women"; "Socrates was
accused of corrupting young men"; "Do school counselors
subvert young children?"; "corrupt the morals" [syn:
corrupt, pervert, subvert, demoralize,
demoralise, debauch, debase, profane, vitiate,
deprave, misdirect]
2: practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about
in order to mislead or deceive; "Don't twist my words" [syn:
twist, twist around, pervert, convolute,
sophisticate]
3: change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't
abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the
funds intended for the health care of his workers" [syn:
pervert, misuse, abuse]