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Added 7 October 2026

perverse

/pɚˈvɝs/ adjective

Latin root: perversum Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about perverse at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Turned aside while against something, splitting off from a thing.
Morally wrong or evil; wicked; perverted.
Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable.

noun

A chiral opposite of something; a mirror image with opposite handedness.

verb

To pervert.

Origin

From Middle English perverse, pervers, from Old French pervers, from Latin perversum (“thoroughly turned”), past participle of pervertere, from per- (“thoroughly”) + vertere (“to turn”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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