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subversion - 5 dictionary results

sub⋅ver⋅sion

[suhb-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn]
–noun
1. an act or instance of subverting.
2. the state of being subverted; destruction.
3. something that subverts or overthrows.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL subversiōn- (s. of subversiō) an overthrowing. See sub-, version
sub·ver·sion   (səb-vûr'zhən, -shən)   
n.  
    1. The act or an instance of subverting.
    2. The condition of being subverted.
  1. Obsolete A cause of overthrow or ruin.

[Middle English subversioun, from Old French subversion, from Late Latin subversiō, subversiōn-, from Latin subversus, past participle of subvertere, to subvert; see subvert.]
sub·ver'sion·ar'y adj.

Subversion

Sub*ver"sion\, n. [L. subversio: cf. F. subversion. See Subvert.] The act of overturning, or the state of being overturned; entire overthrow; an overthrow from the foundation; utter ruin; destruction; as, the subversion of a government; the subversion of despotic power; the subversion of the constitution.

The subversion [by a storm] of woods and timber . . . through my whole estate. --Evelyn.

Laws have been often abused to the oppression and subversion of that order they were intended to preserve. --Rogers.

subversion 
1382, from O.Fr. subversion, from L.L. subversionem (nom. subversio) "an overthrow, ruin, destruction," from pp. stem of subvertere (see subvert). Subversive (adj.) is first recorded 1644; the noun is from 1887.

Main Entry: sub·ver·sion
Pronunciation: s&b-'v&r-zh&n
Function: noun
: a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working from within; also : the crime of committing acts in furtherance of such an attempt —sub·ver·sion·ary /-zh&-"ner-E/ adjectivesub·ver·sive /-'v&r-siv/ adj or nounsub·ver·sive·ly adverbsub·ver·sive·ness noun
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