Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PER-VER'SION, n. [Fr. from L. perversus.]

The act of perverting; a turning from truth or propriety; diverting from the true intent or object; change to some thing worse. We speak of the perversion of the laws, when they are misinterpreted or misapplied; a perversion of reason, when it is misemployed; a perversion of Scripture, when it is willfully misinterpreted or misapplied, &c.