Part 216

Per*va"sive (?), a. Tending to pervade, or having power to spread throughout; of a pervading quality. "Civilization pervasive and general." M. Arnold.

<! p. 1072 !>

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 only righteous in a word perverse.

Milton.

2. Obstinate in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary.

To so perverse a sex all grace is vain.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Froward; untoward; wayward; stubborn; ungovernable; intractable; cross; petulant; vexatious. -- Perverse, Froward. One who is froward is capricious, and reluctant to obey. One who is perverse has a settled obstinacy of will, and likes or dislikes by the rule of contradiction to the will of others.

Per*versed" (?), a. Turned aside. [Obs.]

Per*vers"ed*ly (?), adv. Perversely. [Obs.]

Per*verse"ly, adv. In a perverse manner.

Per*verse"ness, n. The quality or state of being perverse. "Virtue hath some perverseness." Donne.

Per*ver"sion (?), n. [L. perversio: cf. F. perversion. See Pervert.] The act of perverting, or the state of being perverted; a turning from truth or right; a diverting from the true intent or object; a change to something worse; a turning or applying to a wrong end or use. "Violations and perversions of the laws." Bacon.

Per*ver"si*ty (?), n. [L. perversitas: cf. F. perversitÈ.] The quality or state of being perverse; perverseness.

Per*ver"sive (?), a.Tending to 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 turnanother way; to divert. [Obs.]

Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath.

Shak.

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 designedly; as, to pervert one's words. Dryden.

He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve.

Milton.

Per*vert", v. i. To become perverted; to take the wrong course. [R.] Testament of Love.

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.

That notorious pervert, Henry of Navarre.

Thackeray.

Per*vert"er (?), n. One who perverts (a person or thing). "His own parents his perverters." South. "A perverter of his law." Bp. Stillingfleet.

Per*vert"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being perverted.