perversed

Adjective

perversed (comparative more perversed, superlative most perversed)

1. (obsolete) Split off; isolated; unconnected.
   • He describes the people of Maine in these words: "Magistrates, Husbandmen or Planters and fishermen; of the magistrates some be royalists, the rest perversed spirits, the like are the planters and fishers, of which some be planters and fishers both, others meer fishers; there are but few...1912, Herbert Edgar Holmes, The Makers of Maine, page 172
   • A dull, heavy headache is frequently present, cutaneous sensibility of often perversed sharp pains, numbness, itching, etc.1915 September, F.C. Bandy, “General Paresis of the Insane”, in The Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society, volume 14, number 9, page 469
2. Distorted; changed for the worse.
   • Such a condition indicates perversed physiological function or pathology, or possibly the two combined, and may have origin in the gastro-intestinal tract, the cardio-vascular, cardio-renal, respiratory, or any other system in the body.1918, Virginia Medical Monthly (1918- ). - Volume 45, page 10
   • The patient becomes listless, sluggish, irritable, perversed in desires, unreasonable and passes through varied stages of mental decay to ultimate insanity.1918 January, William Held, “The Epilepsy Problem”, in Iowa Homeopathic Journal, volume 11, number 8, page 13
3. Perverted; morally wrong; wicked; corrupt.
   • It was by associating with a sexually perversed person that I learned to regard my experience with women as a symptom of my affliction and gradually drifted into my present occupation.1905, William Held, Crime, Habit Or Disease?, page 82
   • The Works of the Lord are praise-worthy with the innocent: but they which travell on perversed ways, shall be ashamed.1912, The Pennsylvania-German Society: Proceedings and Addresses at York, PA., October 14, 1910, page 21
4. Contrary;vexing; wayward.
   • Yes, but you are so perversed and old - fashioned. Your notions would make us all as solemn and dull as a parcel of monks.1834, Charles Clifford, A Tale, page 114
   • Felix, being in a perversed mood, contended that universal suffrage would be equally agreeable to the devil; that he would change his politics a little, have a larger traffic, and see himself more fully represented in Parliament.1885, George Eliot, Felix Holt, the Radical, page 242