perverse - Definitions from Dictionary.com

7 results for: perverse

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

per·verse

Audio Help [per-vurs] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	willfully determined or disposed to go counter to what is expected or desired; contrary.

2.	characterized by or proceeding from such a determination or disposition: a perverse mood.

3.	wayward or cantankerous.

4.	persistent or obstinate in what is wrong.

5.	turned away from or rejecting what is right, good, or proper; wicked or corrupt.

[Origin: 1325–75; ME < L perversus facing the wrong way, askew, orig. ptp. of pervertere. See pervert

]

—Related forms

per·verse·ly, adverb

per·verse·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. contumacious, disobedient. 4. stubborn, headstrong. See willful. 5. evil, bad, sinful.

—Antonyms 1. agreeable. 4. tractable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

per·verse Audio Help (pər-vûrs', pûr'vûrs') Pronunciation Key
adj.

Directed away from what is right or good; perverted.
Obstinately persisting in an error or fault; wrongly self-willed or stubborn.
1. Marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict.
2. Arising from such a disposition.
Cranky; peevish.

[Middle English pervers, from Old French, from Latin perversus, past participle of pervertere, to pervert; see pervert.]

per·verse'ly adv., per·verse'ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
perverse

c.1369, "wicked," from O.Fr. pervers, from L. perversus "turned away (from what is right), contrary, askew," pp. of pervertere "to corrupt" (see pervert). The L. word is glossed in O.E. by forcerred, from p.p. of forcyrran "to avoid," from cierran "to turn, return." Meaning "wrong, not in accord with what is accepted" is from c.1568; sense of "obstinate, stubborn" is from 1579. It keeps the non-sexual senses of pervert (v.) and allows the psychological ones to go with perverted.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

perverse
adjective
1.	marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict; "took perverse satisfaction in foiling her plans"
2.	resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior" [syn: contrary]
3.	deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper or good; "depraved criminals"; "a perverted sense of loyalty"; "the reprobate conduct of a gambling aristocrat" [syn: depraved]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
perverse1 [pəˈvəːs] adjective

continuing to do, think etc something which one knows, or which one has been told, is wrong or unreasonable
Example: a perverse child

Arabic:	مُنْحَرِف، شِرّير
Chinese (Simplified):	坚持错误的，任性的
Chinese (Traditional):	堅持錯誤的，任性的
Czech:	zvrácený
Danish:	genstridig; stædig
Dutch:	eigenzinnig
Estonian:	jonnakas
Finnish:	itsepintainen
French:	pervers
German:	verstockt
Greek:	αντιρρησίας, ανάποδος
Hungarian:	önfejű
Icelandic:	þvermóðskufullur
Indonesian:	suka menentang
Italian:	ostinato, irragionevole

Japanese:	ひねくれた
Korean:	심술궂은
Latvian:	ietiepīgs
Lithuanian:	priešgynus, nesukalbamas
Norwegian:	trassig, gjenstridig
Polish:	niepokorny, uparty
Portuguese (Brazil):	intratável
Portuguese (Portugal):	perverso
Romanian:	încăpăţânat, îndărătnic
Russian:	несговорчивый, капризный
Slovak:	zvrhlý, úchylný
Slovenian:	izprijen
Spanish:	terco, obstinado
Swedish:	motsträvig, tvär, egensinnig
Turkish:	ters, aksi, huysuz

perverse2 [pəˈvəːs] adjective

deliberately wrong; unreasonable
Example: perverse behaviour

Arabic:	فاسِد، مُفْسِد للأخْلاق
Chinese (Simplified):	反常的，背理的
Chinese (Traditional):	反常的，背理的
Czech:	zavilý
Danish:	sygelig
Dutch:	balorig
Estonian:	paheline
Finnish:	uppiniskainen
French:	obstiné (dans le mal)
German:	verkehrt
Greek:	λαθεμένος, παράλογος
Hungarian:	természetellenes
Icelandic:	spilltur; ósanngjarn
Indonesian:	salah
Italian:	ostinato

Japanese:	強情な
Korean:	성미가 비꼬인
Latvian:	perverss; aplams; nesaprātīgs
Lithuanian:	įnoringas
Norwegian:	pervers, fordervet
Polish:	przewrotny
Portuguese (Brazil):	contumaz, obstinado
Portuguese (Portugal):	mau
Romanian:	pervers
Russian:	упрямый
Slovak:	zanovitý
Slovenian:	sprevržen
Spanish:	perverso, malsano
Swedish:	motsträvig, trotsig, vrång
Turkish:	münasebetsiz, aksi

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Perverse

Fro"ward\, a. [Fro + -ward. See Fro, and cf. Fromward.] Not willing to yield or compIy with what is required or is reasonable; perverse; disobedient; peevish; as, a froward child.

A froward man soweth strife. --Prov. xvi. 28.

A froward retention of custom is as turbulent a thing as innovation. --Bacon.

Syn: Untoward; wayward; unyielding; ungovernable: refractory; obstinate; petulant; cross; peevish. See Perverse. -- Fro"ward*ly, adv. -- Fro"ward*ness, n.

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