peruse 
4421 
peruse (pe-roV),r.,.: pr*t.ndim.j>Mw<t,ppr, pervasive (pcr-va'siv) a. [< L.pen'adrrr, pp. 
peruging. \ < late.MK. //.,< L./r. through, /n ,-i-<ixii*. pervade: xw prrrudi:] Tending or 
+ K. MM ; Iranslateil by XI. ///', in Levins ' 
(lf>7(>). The formation looks unusual, but it is 
well supported by similar 1'iirniat ions now ob- 
solete, e. j;. i>cnift. /irr/ilinit, /M-rxliiml, etc. The 
sense is exactly that of /irrrixi , 'look through,' 
and it has been supposed to Ixi a reduction of 
I hut. form; but such reduction is impossible, 
and jii rrisi' has been found only in one doubt- 
ful instance, seventy years later than the lirst 
instance of /i.r/Kr.J i. To go through Hearch- 
ingly or carefully; run over with careful scru- 
tiny; examine throughout or in detail; inspect; 
survey; scan; scrutinize. 
And thcrevpon the Maire, first, by his reason to name 
and gyve his voice to som worshipful! man of the seidc 
hows, and after liym the .shircf, ami so all tile house 
periuut in the sume, eiiery man to gyve his voice as shall 
jilea.se him ; which shal alle be wretyn by the towne elerk, 
and by the same rep.. He and present liym that bathe moste 
volses. Jiicart, Register (1479), quoted in English Oildn 
[(E. E.T.S.),p. 414. 
Hut certes the very cause of decay, ne the true meane to 
cure it, may ncucr lie suttlclently knowcn of gouerniinrs, 
except they themselfes wyll personally resorte and peruse 
all parten of the eountrayes under their goucrnance, and 
inserchc diligently, etc. 
Sir T. Elyat, The Oovemuur, 111. 26. 
.Monsieur Soiihicz, lia\ ing perused the fleet, retunied to 
the king, and told him there was nothing ready ; and that 
the mariners and souldicrs would notyecld to goethe voy- 
age till they were paid then* arrears. 
MS. Ilarl., 883. (IlaUimU.) 
I'll view the manners of the town, 
J'cruxe the traders, gaze upon the buildings. 
Shak., C. of E.-, i. 2. 13. 
For let a man seriously and diligently revolve and peruse 
|tr. L. percunvt\ the succession of the emperors of Rome, 
and he shall find this judgment is truly mado. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 4. 
Myself I then perused, and limb by limb 
Survey'd. MUtoa, V. 1.., vlii. 27. 
Let any one peruse, with all intent ness, the lineaments 
of this portrait, and see if the husband had not reason . . . 
to challenge comparison. 
Mary. Fuller, Woman in 19th Cent., p. 82. 
At those high words, we, conscious of ourselves, 
Perused the matting. Tennyson, Princess, 11. 
2. To read through carefully or with attention. 
Peruse this paper, madam. Shak., T. G. of V., L 2. 34. 
The most pitifull Historic of their Martyrdome, which I 
have often perused, not without effusion of tears. 
Coryat, Crudities, I. 64. ror is to that of the object itself. 
Will not your lordship peruse the contents? perversedt (per-versf), a. [< perverse + -ed" 2 .] 
Ford, Lady's Trial, i. 2. Turned. Phaer, ^Eneid, v. 
peruser (pe-ro'zer), i. [( peruse + -cr*.] One perversedlyt (per-ver'sed-li), adv. Perversely, 
who peruses ; one who reads or examines. Ascham. 
Perusinet, [< Pern + -s- + -ini.] A native perversely (por-vers'li), adv. In a perverse 
or an inhabitant of Peru; a Peruvian. Putten- manner; stubbornly; with intent to vex; 
having power to pervade. 
When from each branch anneal'd, the works of frost 
Pervasive, radiant Icicles depend. 
Shenstone, Economy, HI. 
Sermons preached from the text "Be ye perfect'* are 
the only sermons of a pervariee and deep-searching Influ- 
ence. Mar<j. Fuller, Woman in lth Cent., p. 19. 
perverse (per-vers'), . and . [< F. jM-rrern = 
Sp. I'if. It. />rri'i-r/a>. < L. iM-rn-rxiix, perverse, 
turned the wrong way, askew, not right, pp. of 
ucrecrtere, turn around, pervert: see perrert.] 
1. a. 1. Turned away or deviating from what is 
right, proper, correct, etc. ; perverted. 
Of 111 thoughtes cummeth perverse ludgement. 
.lui'liiiin. The Setiolemaster, p. US. 
The only righteous in a world perverse. 
Milton, P. L, xl. 701. 
2. Obstinate in the wrong; disposed to be con- 
trary; stubborn; untractable; self-willed. 
One of the greatest Tortures that can be In the Negotia- 
tion of the World is to have to do with perverse, Irrational, 
half-witted Men. llouxtt, Letters, U. 19. 
What is more likely, considering our perverse nature, 
than that we should neglect the duties, while we wish to 
retain the privileges, of our Christian profession? 
'. //. \.iiiiiii, i. Parochial Sermons, I. 129. 
3. Cross ; petulant ; peevish ; disposed to cross 
and vex. 
I'll frown and be pererrse, ami say thee nay. 
Shak., R. and J., U. 2.96. 
4. Untoward: as, "event perverse!" Afilton,P. 
L., ix. 405. = gyn. 2. Perverse, Fraward, wilful, mulish. 
pervious 
Raynalde of the rodes, and rebelle to Critic, 
Pervert'-ilr with l'ayn> ms that < i HI ei ie penewes 
Morte Arthure(V.. K. T. H.X I. 27h7. 
Words, as * Tartar's bow do shoot back UJKUI the under- 
standing of the wisest, anil mightily entangle and pervert 
the judgment. Haetm. Advam emeiit of Learning, 11. '229. 
This rule of his he doth sometimes pervert, to acquaint 
the world with his prerogative. 
Xir T. Brou-ne, Religlo Medici, 1. IS. 
3. To turn from right opinions or right con- 
duct; corrupt. 
A man can have no occasion to do good, chancing Into 
the company .if them which Hill *Kinir ftntft .1 UM.| 
man than be made good themselves. 
Sir T. More, Utopia (tr. by Robinson), I. 
The Jesuit* will scarce pervert you or me I should hope. 
Ooldmuth, Uood-natured Man, L 
4. To perform the geometrical operation of 
perversion upon (any figure). 
II. iiitrtiH*. 1. To turn aside from the right 
course, way, etc. ; take a wrong course : be.-,, me 
corrupt or corrupted. 
blessings unus'd pervert Into a waste 
As well as surfeits. yuarles, Emblems, i. 1. 
2. To become a pervert or turncoat, 
pervert (per' vert), . [< pervert, v.] One who 
has turned aside from the right way ; one who 
has apostatized or turned to error. Compare 
'vert. 
That notorious "pervert," Henry of Navarre and France. 
Thackeray, Roundabout Papers, 1. 
= 8yn. A'ecphyte, Proselyte, etc. See convert. 
perverted (per-ver'ted), p. a. Misdirected; 
misapplied; corrupt; false. 
LilY.TT*H*+* /lA._fA'*Aw\ ., 
ij., IA. tuu. = Byn. a. j-erverse, Froward, wilful, mulish, nprvprtpr iner vrf>r'rArl i OTIA whn ,...,-vi.,.i 
ThederivationsofpercCTwand/roimn/suggestessentially Perveirer (per-yir 3r;, n. Une who perverts, 
the same Idea, froicard, however, has reference only to or turns from right to wrong; one who distorts, 
one's attitude In regard to obedience, and chiefly, there- ~ ! ~-'- i *- = ' 
fore, to the behavior of children ; In Shakspere, of women. 
It is not used of a disobedient spirit toward civil law, and 
perverse Is only Indirectly so used. Perverse has reference 
to one's attitude, in both conduct and opinion. The per- 
misinterprets, misapplies, or corrupts. 
The Scripture teachcth us how we ought to withstand 
the penerteri of the Gospell. 
Milto? 
'ilton, Apology for Smectymnuus. 
verse personals settled in habit and disposition of contrarl- pervertible (pr-verj[ti-bl), a. [< OF. pervertible 
ness he not only likes or dislikes, acts or refuses to act, = Sp. pervertible = Pg. pervertirel ; as pervert + 
by the rule of contradiction to the wishes, commands, or ih , '-i * Ca.nM n of r,T orvort^l * "-- 
opinions of others, especially of those whom he ought to D(e 'I L d - 
, 
consider, but he Is likely even to take pains to do or say 
-ible.] 
gue, Devoute Essays, i.Tsi. 
that which he knows to be off ensive or painful to them, pervestigatet (per-ves'ti-gat), r. t. 
Penersity may be found In a child, but It is so settled an 
, 
"*" M to ^ rather the mttrk <* an adult - 
of 
W. Monta- 
[< L. per- 
littm, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 26. 
Peruvian (pe-ro'vi-an), a. and n. 
Peruvia) + -an. Cf. Peruan.] I. a. Of or'per- 
il, n. A geometrical form related to another "estigate.] To find out by research. Cockeram. 
(of which it is said to be the perverse) as the pervestlgationt (per-ves-ti-ga'shon), n. [< L. 
form of the image of an object in a plane mir- pervestigatio(n-), investigation, < pervestigare, 
_ :~ *_ i.u-i - 1.1 i_j__i ?.t--i pp. pervestigatim, trace out: see pervestigate.] 
Tne act of pervestigatiug; diligent inquiry; 
thorough research. Chillingworth, Relig. of 
Protestants. 
pervialt (per'vi-al), a. [< L. pervius, passable 
(see pervious), + -al.] Pervious; transparent; 
clear. Chapman, Iliad, xiv., note, 
perviallyt (per'vi-al-i), adv. In a pervious man- 
ner; so as to be pervious; transparently; clear- 
ly. Chapman, Iliad, xiv., note. 
crossly; peevishly. 
[< Peru (NL. perverseness (per-vers'nes), . The state or 
character of being perverse ; disposition to be 
tainiug to Peru, an ancient realm in South contrary, or to thwart or cross; corruption; Pervicacioust (per-vi-ka'shus), a. [=Pg.per- 
wickedness. vicaz " pervicace, < L. perricax (pervicac-), 
America, under the Incas, later a Spanish vice- 
royalty, and now a republic, extending from 
Ecuador southward to Chili Peruvian balsam. 
Same as&&amo// J er(which see, under balsam). Peru- 
vian bark. Hee Cinchona, China bark (under bark-), and 
Jesuit*' bark (under Jemil). Peruvian cotton-plant, 
tvs, n., !, and pepper-tree, 1. Peruvian nutmeg. See 
nutmeg. Peruvian province, in loaijeog., a littoral re- 
gion recognized with reference to the distribution of 
mollusks, Including the coasts of Peru and Chill and the 
islands zoologically related. 
II. n. A native or an inhabitant of Peru, 
either () one of the native race under the In- 
ca empire, or (&) an inhabitant of Peru after 
the Spanish conquest. The modern Peruvians 
are of Spanish, native, or mixed descent. 
pervade (per-vad'), r. t.; pret. and pp. pervad- perversity (per-ver'si-ti), n. 
ed,-ppr. pemi<liug. [<~L.perradere, go through, 
< i>i'i: through, + radere, go, = E. wade: see 
tcadi. Cf. crude, invade.] 1. To pass or flow 
through; penetrate; permeate. 
Therefore she puts off her shooe, and by inuertlng the ? r ? n ' d^f" 061 ?. obstinate, < pervincere , main- 
same, accuseth her husbands peruersetieste. tain one's opinion, < per, through, + vincere 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 293. (-\/vif), conquer: see victor.] Very obstinate ; 
Whom he wishes most shall seldom gain stubborn ; wilfully contrary or refractory ; wil- 
Throughherperwr. MOton, P. L., x. 902. ful. Dryden. Limberham, ii. 1. 
perversion (p&wer'shon), n. [< F. perversion pervicaciouslyt (per-vi-ka'shus-li), adv. In a 
= Sp. perversion = Pg. perversSo = It. perver- pervicacious manner; stubbornly ; with wilful 
trione, < L. perversio(n-), a turning about, < per- obstinacy. 
tertere, pp. perversus, turnabout: see pervert.] pervicaciousnesst (per-yi-ka'shus-nes), . The 
1. The act of perverting ; a turning from truth character of being pervicacious. Bentliy, Ser- 
or propriety ; a diverting from the true intent mons, vi. 
or object ; change to something worse. 2. In pervicacityt (per-vi-kas'i-ti), n. [< L. pervicax 
math., the operation of passing from any figure (peri-icac-), obstinate (see pervicacious), + -ity.] 
The labour'd chyle pervades the pores. 
Sir R. Blackmore. 
2. To extend throughout; spread or be spi 
through the whole extent of; be diffused 
throughout. 
What but Ood . . . pervades, 
Adjust*, sustains, and agiUtes the whole ! 
Thomson, Spring, 1. 801. 
A spirit of cabal, intrigue, and proselytism pervaded all 
their thoughts, words, and actions. Burke. 
pervasion (per-va'zhon), n. [< LL. pervasio(n-), 
an invasion, < L. />rmtdrr<; pp. pervasus, per- 
vade: see pervade.] The act of pervading; a 
passing through the whole extent of a thing. 
Those kinds or manners of fluidity newly ascribed to 
saltpetre will appeal' to be caused by the pervasion of a 
foreign body. Boyle, Works, I. 389. misinterpret wilfully. 
to another like the image of the former in a Pervicaciousness. Bailey, 1731. 
plane mirror; also, same as perverse. pervicacyt (per'vi-ka-si), n. [= Pg. It. perti- 
lerversity (per-ver'si-ti), n. [< F. perversM = cacia, < L. jjerricacio/firmness, obstinacy, < per- 
Sp. perversidad = Pg. perversidade = It. per- vicax, firm, obstinate: see pervicacious.] Per- 
versita,< ~L. perversita(t-)s, perverseness, < per- vicaciousness. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), 
versus, perverse: see perverse.] Perverse char- 11.211. 
acter, disposition, tendency, or conduct ; dispo- pervigilationt (per-vij-i-la'shqn), . [< L. per- 
sition to be contrary; perverseness. = Byn. See vigilatio(n-), a vigil, < pervigitare, pp. pervigila- 
tus, watch through, < per, through, + vigilare, 
perversive (per-ver'siv), a. [< t,. perversus, pp. watch: see vigilant.] A careful watching"; viiri- 
of pervertere, pervert, + -ive.] Tending or hav- lance. Bailey. 
ing power to pervert or corrupt. pervigilium (per-vi-jil'i-um), n. [L., <pervigil, 
pervert (per-vert'), r. [< ME. perverten, < OF. also perrigilis, very watchful, < per, through, + 
pervertcr, parvertir, F. pervertir = Pr. Sp. per- vigil, watchful: see vigil.] A watching all 
rrrttr = Pg. perverter = It. pervertire, perver- night; a vigil; in pathol., disinclination to 
tere, < L. pervertere, turn about, corrupt, < per, sleep; wakefulness. 
through, + vertere, turn: aeererse. Cf. advert, pervuiket, n. 
unrt, <-<}iircrt,divert,etc.] I. (raw " ' " 
aside ; turn another way ; avert. 
A Middle English form of peri- 
pervious (per'vi-us), a. [= Pg. It. perrio, < L. 
Let 's follow him and pervert the present wrath perws, passable, < per, through, + rifl, way. 
He hath against himself. Shak., Cymbeline, 1L 4. 151. ft. devious, invious.] I/Capable of being pene- 
2. To turn from truth, from propriety, or from trated or permeated by something else ; afford- 
its P. rop^purp.ose^ distort from its use or end ; ing entrance, admission, or passage ; penetra- 
ble; permeable. 
