[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pervert/)

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# pervert

verb (pervert, perverts, perverted, perverting); noun (a pervert, perverts)

«pervert» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. verb: To change something so that it is used wrongly or for a bad purpose: "pervert the truth". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#m1)
2. verb (law): "Pervert the course of justice" means to try to stop the police or courts finding the truth, for example by lying or hiding evidence; this is a crime. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#m2)
3. noun: (rude, adult slang) a rude word grown-ups use; not for school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#m3)

### In the lessons

In law and the news, "perverting the course of justice" is a serious crime in the UK, Ireland and Australia. In formal writing, to pervert something good means to twist it into something bad. The noun is an adult insult and not for school.

### Examples

- He was charged with perverting the course of justice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#x1)
- Lying to the police can pervert the course of justice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#x2)
- They perverted the rules to get their own way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#x3)
- The villain perverted the wizard's gift into a curse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#x4)
- Do not pervert the truth to win an argument. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/#x5)

### Note

Stress: verb "per-VERT", noun "PER-vert". Adjective "perverse" means stubbornly unreasonable, doing the opposite of what is sensible (a perverse choice). The noun is rude; do not call people this.

## In Jewish tradition

To bend a court's judgment so that it is unfair, especially to the weak such as the stranger, the orphan and the widow.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis teach that judges must be fair to everyone, and that the poor and the foreigner need special care; false witnesses and crooked judges were seen as a serious sin.

### Examples

- If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear perverted witness against him; (Torah DEU.19.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pervert/#x1)
- Thou shalt not pervert the justice due to the stranger, or to the fatherless; nor take the widow's raiment to pledge. (Torah DEU.24.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pervert/#x2)
- Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to pervert justice; (Torah EXO.23.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pervert/#x3)
- Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? (Writings JOB.8.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pervert/#x4)
- Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. (Writings JOB.34.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pervert/#x5)
- A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice. (Writings PRO.17.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pervert/#x6)

### Note

Stress: verb "per-VERT", noun "PER-vert". Adjective "perverse" means stubbornly unreasonable, doing the opposite of what is sensible (a perverse choice). The noun is rude; do not call people this.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pervert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pervert/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pervert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pervert.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «pervert» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pervert/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pervert» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pervert.html) on Mova free.