Per-vērse', a.
(14), a. [Lat. perversus, turned the wrong way, not right, p. p. of pervertere, to turn around, to overturn; Fr. & Pr. pervers, Sp., Pg., & It. perverso. See PERVERT.]
Sense 1. Turned aside; hence, distorted from the right.
Best friends might loathe us, if what things perverse We know of our own selves they also know. Trench.
Sense 2. Obstinate in the wrong; disposed to be contrary; stubborn; untractable. “In the perverse event.” Milton.
To so perverse a sex all grace is vain. Dryden.
Sense 3. Cross; petulant; peevish; disposed to cross and vex.
I'll frown, and be perverse, and say thee nay. Shak.
Synonyms—Froward; untoward; stubborn; untractable; ungovernable; cross; petulant; peevish; 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. “Frowardness lies in the temper and spirit; it chooses to please itself without regard to others; it is fitful and changeable. To fret and repine at every disappointment of our wishes, is to discover the temper of froward children.” Blair. “Perversity lies deeper; taking root in the heart, it assumes the shape of malignity; a perverse temper is really wicked; it likes or dislikes by the rule of contradiction to another's will.” Crabb. “Interference of interest, or perversity of disposition, may occasionally lead individuals to oppose, even to hate, the upright and the good.” Blair.