subvert (v.)

late 14c., subverten, "to raze, destroy, overthrow, overturn" (senses now obsolete), also in a general sense, "disturb, overturn" (a condition, order, etc.), from Old French subvertir "overthrow, destroy" (13c.), or directly from Latin subvertere "to turn upside down, overturn, overthrow," from sub "under" (see sub-) + vertere "to turn, turn back, be turned; convert, transform, translate; be changed" (from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend"). Related: Subverted; subverting.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to subvert

subversion (n.)

late 14c., subversioun, "physical destruction, demolition, ruination; overthrow of a system or law," from Old French subversion "downfall, overthrow" (12c.), from Late Latin subversionem (nominative subversio) "an overthrow, ruin, destruction," noun of action from past-participle stem of subvertere "turn upside down, overturn, overthrow" (see subvert).

subversive (adj.)

"tending to subvert," 1640s, from Latin subvers-, past-participle stem of subvertere "turn upside down, overturn, overthrow" (see subvert) + -ive. As a noun, by 1887, "one who seeks to overthrow a political regime." Related: Subversively; subversiveness.

suzerain

sub-

*wer-

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Trends of subvert

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suzerain

"sovereign, ruler, feudal lord or baron," 1807, suzereign, from French suzerain (14c., Old French suserain), noun use of an adjective meaning "sovereign but not supreme," from the adverb sus "up, above," on analogy of soverain (see sovereign (adj.)). Old French sus is from Vulgar

overthrow

c. 1300, ouerthrouen, "to knock down, throw down, cast headlong," from over- + throw (v.). Figurative sense of "to cast down from power, defeat" is attested from late 14c. Related: Overthrown; overthrowing. Earlier in same senses was Middle English overwerpen "to overturn (someth

overturn

early 13c., of a wheel, "to rotate, roll over," from over- + turn (v.). Attested from c. 1300 in general transitive sense "to throw over violently;" figurative meaning "to ruin, destroy" is from late 14c. Of judicial decisions, "to reverse," it is attested from 1826. Related: Ove

obscene

Legally, "any impure or indecent publication tending to corrupt the mind and to subvert respect for decency and morality....

work

To work against "attempt to subvert" is from late 14c....

suborn

"procure unlawfully, bribe to accomplish a wicked purpose," especially to induce a witness to perjury; also more generally, "lure (someone) to commit a crime;" 1530s, from French suborner "seduce, instigate, bribe" (13c.) and directly from Latin subornare "provide, furnish, equip

change

c. 1200, "to alter, make different, change" (transitive); early 13c. as "to substitute one for another;" mid-13c. as "to make (something) other than what it was, cause to turn or pass from one state to another;" from late 13c. as "to become different, be altered" (intransitive),

modify

late 14c., modifien, "alter, amend, adjust, change the properties, form, or function of;" also "set limits, keep within the bounds of reason; choose a middle course," from Old French modifier (14c.), from Latin modificare "to limit, measure off, restrain," from modus "measure, ma

disobey

late 14c., disobeien, "neglect or refuse to obey," from Old French desobeir (13c.) "disobey; refuse service or homage," from Vulgar Latin *disoboedire, reformed with dis- (see dis-) from Late Latin inobedire, a back-formation from inobediens "not obeying," from Latin in- "not" +

depose

c. 1300, "to remove from office, especially from royalty," from Old French deposer (12c.), from de- "down" (see de-) + poser "put, place" (see pose (v.1)). Meaning "testify to, attest," especially "give testimony on oath" is from early 15c.; sense of "take testimony from or exami

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updated on September 25, 2023

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success