perversion

/pə'və:ʃn/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The action of distorting or corrupting something from its original or intended course, meaning, or state: This refers to the process of twisting something to a wrong use or interpretation.
    • A sexual practice or interest considered abnormal or deviant from societal norms: This refers to specific behaviors categorized as deviant.
    • (Archaic/Rare) A change to an opposite direction or state; a turning aside: This is a more technical or historical usage, such as describing a physical curve or reversal.
Usage and Examples
  • Noun (Distortion/Corruption):
    • The lawyer argued that the new law was a perversion of the original constitutional intent.
    • Spreading such rumors is a perversion of the truth.
  • Noun (Sexual Deviance):
    • The old text listed various acts it considered sexual perversions.
    • In some legal codes, certain perversions were criminalized.
  • Noun (Physical Reversal):
    • The botanist noted the perversion of the vine's growth pattern.
Advanced Usage
  • "A perversion of justice": A common phrase meaning a severe distortion or corruption of legal principles and fairness.
    • The blatant bias of the judge was seen as a perversion of justice.
  • Conceptual Use: Can be applied abstractly to ideas, systems, or functions.
    • The dictator's propaganda was a complete perversion of the nation's history.
Variants and Related Words
  • Perverse (adj): Willfully determined to go against what is expected or reasonable; showing a deliberate desire to behave in an unacceptable way.
    • He took a perverse delight in annoying his colleagues.
  • Perversity (n): The quality or state of being perverse.
    • The sheer perversity of his actions baffled everyone.
  • Pervert (v): To distort or corrupt the original course, meaning, or state of something.
    • He attempted to pervert the course of the investigation.
Synonyms
  • Distortion: The action of giving a misleading account or impression.
  • Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct; the process by which something is changed from its original use.
  • Deviation: The action of departing from an established course or accepted standard.
  • Aberration: A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.
Antonyms
  • Purification: The process of making something spiritually or morally pure.
  • Correction: The action or process of correcting something.
  • Normality: The condition of being normal; the state of being usual, typical, or expected.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • To pervert the course of justice: A legal phrase meaning to obstruct or interfere with the fair administration of justice.
    • Witness tampering is a serious crime intended to pervert the course of justice.
Noun
  1. the action of perverting something (turning it to a wrong use)
    • it was a perversion of justice
  2. an aberrant sexual practice;
  3. a curve that reverses the direction of something
    • the tendrils of the plant exhibited perversion
    • perversion also shows up in kinky telephone cords