subvert

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology 1

[edit]

From Middle English subverten, from Old French subvertir, from Latin subvertō (to overthrow, literally to underturn, turn from beneath).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

subvert (third-person singular simple present subverts, present participle subverting, simple past and past participle subverted)

  1. (transitive) To overturn from the foundation; to overthrow; to ruin utterly.
  2. (transitive) To pervert, as the mind, and turn it from the truth; to corrupt; to confound.
    A dictator stays in power only as long as he manages to subvert the will of his people.
  3. (transitive) To upturn convention from the foundation by undermining it (literally, to turn from beneath).
Derived terms
[edit]
Translations
[edit]

Etymology 2

[edit]

Back-formation from subvertising, by analogy with advert.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

subvert (plural subverts)

  1. An advertisement created by subvertising.
Synonyms
[edit]
Translations
[edit]