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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Perverst, -versit, a. Also: par- and -versyt, -(e)d; -werst, -wersit; -vest. [e.m.E. peruersed (a 1535), L. perversus. Chiefly Sc. Cf. Pervers a. and Pervert a.] Perverse.

1. Turned away from what is good or proper; perverted; wicked, evil.Said of persons, ideas, states of mind, qualities, actions, etc. Also transf.Chiefly attrib., also predic. and absol.attrib. (1) a1500 Colk. Sow i. 53.
Ȝit scho callit … A peruerst perdonair … A wich [etc.] 1527 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I. App. xxiv.
Of ther wikkit perverst and ewill inclinit personis 1528 Lynd. Dreme 176.
Proude and peruerst prelattis 1531 Bell. Boece II. 13.
To fecht … aganis oure perverst ennimes 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 512.
Kyngis … Geue ȝe chuse … Gredie and peruerst mynistaris(2) 1488 Acts II. 210/2.
The saidis articlis wes … brokyne be the peruerst counsale of diuers persons [etc.] 1516–7 Reg. Privy S. I. 447/1.
His evill and perversit opinioun contrare the King and wele of the realm 1521 Acts XII. 38/2.
That we [do not] … assist the said Duke in his perverst purpos 1554 Crim. Trials I. i. 371. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 126/17.
To the peruersit iugement of sum priuat faccious fallowis 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 505.
Continewand in thair perversit cogitationis(3) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 53/1.
Jnducit to euill and peruerst werkis to syn [etc.] Ib. II. 139/28.
[He] has schawin him the wrang peruerst way 1513 Doug. Direct. 30.
Perversyt 1528 Lynd. Dreme 483.
His intoxicat dispositioun … Peruest [sic in pr.] and pure 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10694.
For his knaifrie and his peruerst offence 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 192.
The vnnaturall abusing of thy selff … be the perverst inchantmentis wichcraft [etc.] … and sorcerie(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 249.
Sa that my preching may pers your perverst hertis 1513 Doug. Comm. i. ii. 12.
The windis of peruersit appetyte Id. Æn. vi. iv. 88. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 791.
First done to me with peruerst mind and will a1568 Scott xxxiv. 81.
Thocht ȝung perwersit natouris To palȝardy applawddis 1587-99 Hume 106/118.
The perversed conscience … is not mooued with remorse(5) a1500 Colk. Sow i. 28.
Thir thre peruerst propirteis I find in skars keping a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 115/27.
Thair vickit and peruersit allegeance 1567 G. Ball. 212.
Peruerst pryde(6) transf. (a) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 289.
Thay luik sa gryme with peruerst vult austeir(b) c1610 Melville Mem. 170.
For … it wes a paruersit tym and the mair that [etc.]predic. 1490 Irland Mir. MS. fol. 349.
Quhen the kingis … causis the pepil to be euill and perwerst Id. Asl. MS. 43/25.
The frute that cummis of a noble tre … may nocht be evill and perverst c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 215.
Be he peruerst … He hes neid of ane gude remissiounabsol. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 66/8.
Than the richteous fra the peruerst

2. Stubborn or persistent (in error).(1) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2581.
The peruerst prophetis of Baall Quhilkis did consent to the idolatrye Off wickit Achab 1562-3 Winȝet I. 37/21.
Blyndnes and … arrogance leidand all peruersit erroneus men as captiuis 1632 Lithgow Trav. i. 19.
All the hypocriticall crew of these pervers'd Jebusites [i.e. Papists](2) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 300/17.
Caym offering waike seidis with peruersit spreit c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 64.
The Romane kirk … Quhilk dois menteane peruerst idolatrie a1578 Pitsc. I. 103/20.
And all loweris of him in sic perversit persewerance 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 363.
The incredule Ieues … indurit in thair peruersit opinions blasphemis Christ Jesus