v. [ad. OF. subvertir (from 13th c.), or L. subvertĕre, f. sub- SUB- 25 + vertĕre to turn. Cf. It. sovvertere, Sp. subvertir, Pg. subverter.]
† 1. trans. To overthrow, raze to the ground (a town or city, a structure, edifice). Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xix. 29. Whan forsothe God had subuertid the citees of that regioun.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 163. The excellent Cite of troy for aye Subuertid and destrued was.
1513. Life Henry V. (1911), 117. Some others labored to subuert and ouerthrowe the walls.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. iii. 65. These are his substance, sinewes, armes, and strength, With which he … Razeth your Cities, and subuerts your Townes.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 361. When those more ancient Churches were subverted, Aldred … erected another.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., II. 64. Earthquakes … oftentimes subuert their houses.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 255. He easily recovered what ever had been conquered by … Mansfeldt,… and utterly subverted all that was unnecessary.
1775. R. Chandler, Trav. Asia M. (1825), I. 331. Many villages were absorbed, the city Sipylus was subverted, and marshes were changed into lakes.
† b. in fig. context. Obs.
1661. Boyle, Scept. Chym., II. (1680), 162. Something that Subverts an other Foundation of the Chymical Doctrine.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., xxix. (1687), I. 401. To dissolve those sacred bands, by which its union is conteined, and to subvert the onely foundations of publick tranquillity.
1775. De Lolme, Constit. Eng., I. i. 9. William of Normandy … subverted the ancient fabric of the Saxon Legislation.
1792. Burke, Corr. (1844), III. 392. They began its destruction by subverting … the foundations of civil society itself.
† 2. To upset, overturn (an object); occas. to break up (ground). Obs.
1543–4. Act 35 Hen. VIII., c. 10 § 2. The Partie … whose Lande or Soile shalbe so herafter subverted and broken.
1563. Homilies, II. I. II. Dd ij. He … ouertourneth the tables of thexchaungers, subuerteth the seates of them that sold doues.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 312. They themselves contrive To rob the Honey, and subvert the Hive.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 17 Feb. 1662. The tempest of wind … which subverted besides huge trees, many houses, innumerable chimnies.
† 3. To evert (the eyelid). Obs.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, ccv. (1557), 70 b. Blere eyes whiche is when the vnder lid of the eye is subuerted.
† 4. To upset (the stomach, appetite). Obs.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, Introd. 13. The Bathes … doe weaken and subuert the stomacke. Ibid., 98. The sweet Orenges are not fit for sauce, because they subuert the appetite, and cause loathsomnesse in the stomacke.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 186. Their eggs or spawn are poysonsome,… subverting the stomack, especially in May.
5. To undermine the character, loyalty, or faith of, corrupt, pervert (a person). Now rare.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Peter), 82. He askit petir, quharfor he Subuertit men of þat cuntre.
1382. Wyclif, Tit. iii. 11. Schonye thou a man heretyk,… witinge for he that is such maner man is subuertid, and trespassith.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 47. He that is siclike is subvertit and synnis.
1615. J. Wright, Acc. Lady Jane Grey, in Phenix (1708), II. 29. Whom … desire of Life hath subverted, and made of a Christian an Infidel.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., II. iii. (1821), 255. Hee was at that time reclaimed, and subverted to bee a good Catholike.
1715. [A. A. Sykes], Innoc. Error, 38. If he be subverted, yet ’twill be hard to prove Sin or Self-Condemnation upon a Man.
1914. Times, 21 Oct., 7/5. These ringleaders … dispose of large means with which they are able to subvert workmen of their country engaged in the dockyard.
6. To disturb (the mind, soul); to overturn, overthrow (a condition or order of things, a principle, law, etc.).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 561. It reueth hym the quiete of his herte and subuerteth his soule.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 16471. Yff he contynue in hys malys … to subuerten myn hope.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 46. The mynystres by theyr pryde and orgueyl subuerte justyce.
1530. Palsgr., 742/2. This cursed opynion, if it may contynewe a whyle, it wyll subvert all good lawes.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. ix. 2. After that he … with dreadfull fate Had vtterly subuerted his vnrighteous state.
1639. Daniel, Ecles., xiii. 26. Hee … Promises mountaines, brings thee to his feast, And doth subvert thy Reason, in thy Tast.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 30. To the end he might … have perverted the Prince, and subverted the true Religion established in England.
1741. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 267. Nor can this obligation be denied … upon any principles, but such as subvert all other obligations.
1786. Burke, Art. agst. W. Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 205. In order to subvert the plain and natural interpretation given by the council to the orders of the court of directors.
1803–6. Wordsw., Excurs., IX. 132. Our active powers … become Strong to subvert our noxious qualities.
1830. Herschel, Study. Nat. Phil., III. v. (1851), 338. The strongest chemical affinities were thus readily subverted by the decomposing action of the pile.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 507. If the constitution of the British Indian empire were subverted, the civil and military services would be broken down.
1861. Buckle, Civilization, II. iii. 259. James … attempted … to subvert the liberties of Scotland.
absol. 1790. Burke, Rev. France, 102. They have a power given to them, like that of the evil principle, to subvert and destroy.
7. To bring about the overthrow or ruin of (a † person, people, or country, a dynasty, etc.).
1529. More, Suppl. Soulys, Wks. 302/2. To make an open insurreccion & subuerte all the realme.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. xxxvii. 9. Thou knowest well, how the kinges of Assiria haue handled all the londes, that they haue subuerted.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. cxlv. (1566), 367. But he them al that wicked are, wil vtterly subuert.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 389. Hee [sc. Scipio] subdued Africa, and subverted Haniball.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 568. By things deemd weak Subverting worldly strong.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., iii. (1876), I. 135. Nothing so much strengthens any government as an unsuccessful endeavour to subvert it.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. India, I. 403. The inscriptions lead us to think that the dynasty subverted by the Mussulmans was of more recent origin.
1869. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, vi. 156. That the Pelopids did not simply subvert, or succeed to, a prior dynasty, but that they held a new dominion.
