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Avert vs Pervert - What's the difference?

avert | pervert |

In transitive terms the difference between avert and pervert

is that avert is to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of while pervert is to turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt.

As a noun pervert is

one who has been perverted; one who has turned to error; one who has turned to a twisted sense of values or morals.

avert

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To turn aside or away.
  • To avert the eyes from an object.
  • To ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.
  • How can the danger be averted ?
  • * Milton
  • To avert his ire.
  • * Prior
  • Till ardent prayer averts the public woe.
  • (archaic) To turn away.
  • * Thomson
  • Cold and averting from our neighbour's good.
  • (archaic) To turn away.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church.

    Derived terms

    * averter * avertress

    Synonyms

    * (to prevent) * See also

    References

    * " avert" at OneLook® Dictionary Search .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    pervert

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (dated) One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error; one who has turned to a twisted sense of values or morals.
  • A person whose sexual habits are not considered acceptable.
  • Those perverts were trying to spy on us while we changed clothes!

    Usage notes

    * In contemporary usage, pervert is usually understood to refer to a sexually perverted person. Traditionally the word was mainly associated with persons of false religious beliefs.

    Synonyms

    * (sexually perverted person) deviant, perv (slang)

    Antonyms

    * convert (religious)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To turn another way; to divert.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath.
  • To turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt.
  • * Milton
  • He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2004 , date=April 15 , author= , title=Morning swoop in hunt for Jodi's killer , work=The Scotsman citation , page= , passage=A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We can confirm that a 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Jodi Jones. A 45-year-old has also been arrested in connection with allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice. A report on this has been sent to the procurator fiscal." }}
  • To misapply; to misinterpret designedly.
  • pervert one's words
  • To become perverted; to take the wrong course.
  • (Testament of Love)

    Synonyms

    * (turn another way) divert, steer, veer * corrupt, lead astray * misapply, misuse * (take the wrong course)