Per*verse" (?), a. [L. perversus
turned the wrong way, not right, p. p. of pervertereto turn
around, to overturn: cf. F. pervers. See Pervert.]
1. Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away
from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.
The only righteous in a word
perverse.
Milton.
2. Obstinate in the wrong; stubborn;
intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary.
To so perverse a sex all grace is
vain.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Froward; untoward; wayward; stubborn; ungovernable;
intractable; cross; petulant; vexatious. -- Perverse,
Froward. One who is froward is capricious, and reluctant
to obey. One who is perverse has a settled obstinacy of will,
and likes or dislikes by the rule of contradiction to the will of
others.
