† interˈvert, v. Obs.
[ad. L. intervert-ĕre, f. inter between + vertĕre to turn. Cf. F. intervertir (Cotgr., in sense 1).]
1. To divert another way, or put to a use other than that intended; to alienate, misapply, misuse.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1092 The good never intervert, nor miscognize the favour and benefit which they have received. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxiv. §42. 1142 With an intent to interuert the inheritance and honour of the O-Neale another way. 1648 Acts Gen. Assembly (1682) 477 Where the collection is more, it is hereby specially inhibited and discharged that any part thereof be retained or interverted to any other use whatsomever. |
b. esp. To divert to one's own use or profit; to appropriate, embezzle.
| 1600 Holland Livy iii. lxxii. 138 Yet would there not be so much gained and gotten by comming thus betweene, and interverting the land [agro intercipiendo]. 1647 Trapp Comm. Titus i. 10 Interverting, embezeling their masters estates. 1691 Ray Words Pref. 2 Lest I..should defraud him, and intervert any part thereof. 1850 Fraser's Mag. XLI. 529 Bentley was the first among modern critics—though his adversaries accused him herein of ‘interverting’ Neveletus—to discover the merits of the poet. |
2. To give a different turn to; to change, invert.
| a 1638 Wotton Life Dk. Buckhm. in Reliq. (1651) 99 The Duke getting knowledge..interverted the bargain, and gave the poor Widow for them five hundred pounds. 1792 Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) II. 261 The Cordeliers know well the danger of interverting the order of succession. 1825 Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 61 Interverted, abridged, mutilated, and often reversing the sense of the original. |
Hence † interˈverting vbl. n.
| 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. (1634) 488 The interverting of some Treasures by Belosus. 1660 in Crookshank Hist. Suffer. Ch. Scot. (1749) I. Introd. 59 The prejudice the church doth suffer by the interverting of the vaking stipends. |