subvert

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Contents

English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English subverten, 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.
    • Shakespeare
      He [] razeth your cities, and subverts your towns.
    • John Locke
      This would subvert the principles of all knowledge.
  2. (transitive) To pervert, as the mind, and turn it from the truth; to corrupt; to confound.
  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]
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