perversus Latin · revision 32638

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *wert-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''perversus''' (feminine perversa, neuter perversum; comparative perversior, superlative perversissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)

+ It is also spelled ''pervorsus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective, it is the past participle [[der|la|pervertō|t=to overturn; to corrupt]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) That verb is [[af|la|per-|vertō|t2=to turn]], and Wiktionary traces [[m|la|vertō]] to [[itc-pro|*wertō]] and [[ine-pro|*wert-]], with cognates such as [[sa|वर्तते|tr=vártate|t=to turn]] and [[lt|ver̃sti]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the OLD's earliest quotations Plautus has a day that has turned out wrong and against the speaker, and tells a man he is perverse both there and here.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is turned the wrong way round, reversed: Varro explains the birth goddess Postverta from a child born the wrong way.^(OLD 2012) Cicero has eyes that squint badly.^(OLD 2012) Of people, their actions and ideas it is wrong-headed or perverse, as in Plautus, and depraved: Cicero speaks of a perverse and impious religion.^(OLD 2012) Cicero also uses it of a cross-grained man he is free from having to court.^(OLD 2012) Manilius uses it of something unnatural, bears trained in human arts.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it perverse, evil.^(Stelten 1995) Köbler lists French [[m|fr|pervers]] and German [[m|de|pervers]] among its later reflexes.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a day turned wrong and of a contrary man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of a child born the wrong way.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of squinting eyes and of a depraved religion.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Manilius of unnatural tasks.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Turned the wrong way, [[m|en|reversed]], topsy-turvy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Distorted, askew; of the eyes, squinting.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Of people and their ideas, wrong-headed, [[m|en|perverse]], misguided; [[m|en|depraved]]; cross-grained, ill-tempered.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Unnatural, abnormal.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perverto|alt=pervertō]]

+ * [[verto|alt=vertō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}