perverse

 
Pronunciation: /pəˈvəːs/

adjective

  • 1showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable: Kate’s perverse decision not to cooperate held good
  • 2contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice: in two general elections the outcome was quite perverse
  • Law (of a verdict) against the weight of evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law.
  • 3sexually perverted: an evil life dedicated to perverse pleasure films depicting behaviour which seemed perverse or deviant were seen as more suitable for private therapy than for public consumption

Derivatives

perversely

adverb
[sentence adverb]: perversely, she felt nearer to tears now than at any other moment in the conversation

perverseness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'turned away from what is right or good'): from Old French pervers(e), from Latin perversus 'turned about', from the verb pervertere (see pervert)