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Pervert: Word Wednesday (Improve Your Word Power)

Pervert is today’s word and it is a word, at least in the UK, that has connotations with sex offenders. A “perve” is often the abbreviated derogatory version of the word likely to be spat out with some venom in the direction of an actual or perceived sex offender.

Yet as is the case with many words in the English language, “perve” is flexible and is often heard as part of banter between friends. So if friend A does or says something gross then a typical response from friend B would be “you perve”!

What does Merriam-Webster have to say?

Definition
transitive verb
1
a : to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : corrupt
b : to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted : misdirect
2
a : to divert to a wrong end or purpose : misuse
b : to twist the meaning or sense of : misinterpret
perverter noun

Examples of in a sentence
people who pervert their religion to support violence
They perverted the truth to help further their careers.
movies that pervert the minds of young people by glorifying violence

Origin and Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French purvertir, pervertir, from Latin pervertere to overturn, corrupt, pervert, from per- thoroughly + vertere to turn
noun per·vert
Definition
: one that has been perverted; specifically : one given to some form of sexual perversion

Examples of pervert in a sentence
<longtime residents warned us not to go near the neighborhood pervert>

First Known Use
circa 1661

Then we have the Facebook comment:

Mick Lammert · WITC-New Richmond
BILL CLINTON
Like · Reply · 1 · Sep 27, 2016 12:46am

Oh dear Mr. Lammert! Inexcusable behavior for a President but pervert? But perhaps it takes one to know one?

 

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