pervert

Where does the word "pervert" come from? It comes from Latin pervertere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Pervert’s story begins in Latin: pervertere meant “to turn completely around, to overturn.” To turn completely around, to overturn, from per- (thoroughly) and vertere (to turn). It reached English by 1300s as pervert. Settled as the English word for turning something away from its proper use or meaning. Today, pervert means to distort something from its original meaning or purpose.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pervertere "to turn completely around, to overturn", to turn completely around, to overturn, from per- (thoroughly) and vertere (to turn).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s pervert "to turn something away from its proper use or meaning", settled as the English word for turning something away from its proper use or meaning.