evert, v.
(ɪˈvɜːt)
[ad. L. ēvert-ĕre to overturn, f. ē- out + vertĕre to turn.]
† 1. trans. To turn upside down, upset. lit. and fig. Obs. rare.
| 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. iv, The very thought Everts my soul with passion. 1620 Venner Via Recta viii. 182 To end the meale with much drinke, doth by euerting the concoction, cause eructations. a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. Prol. 6 There did he..evert it [a tub], invert it, subvert it. |
2. † a. To overthrow (a city, temple, enemy, etc.). Also absol. Obs.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy i. (1822) 53 Legiounis of futemen, to evert and cast doun the foresaid ciete to the ground. 1593 Bilson Govt. Christ's Ch. 311 It is easier to euert or disturbe, then to plant or establish. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe 50 For feare after he had euerted their foes..hee woulde rauen vp them. 1730–1800 in Bailey. |
b. fig. To overthrow (an empire, government); to upset (a judgement, argument, doctrine, law, etc.); to frustrate (a purpose); rarely, to overthrow (a person) in argument. Obs. or arch.
| 1538 Starkey England ii. ii. 192 The suttylty of one sergeant schal euerte [misprinted enerte] and destroy al the jugementys of many wyse men before tyme receyuyd. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 281 He began..to evert his fathers..testament. 1563 Homilies ii. Idolatry ii. (1859) 211 And the noble Empire of Greece clean everted. 1581 Savile Agric. (1622) 189 And chiefly his great attempts against Germany turning to nothing, euerted that purpose. 1600 Holland Livy viii. xxx. 303 Then hath the master of horsemen..everted and overthrowne both Dictatours Majestie and Militarie discipline. a 1681 Wharton Fasts & Fest. Wks. (1683) 11 Antiochus Epiphanes..everted the true worship of God. 1686 Goad Celest. Bodies ii. vii. 244 We have everted that Objection. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 175 The Jurisdiction of the Judge is not yet everted and overthrown. 1849 J. Wilson in Blackw. Mag. LXVI. 652, I am overthrown—everted—subverted—the contradiction is flagrant. 1872 J. Walker Scot. Theol. & Theolog. iv. (1888) 100 They clearly evert the fundamentals. |
† 3. To draw or turn out of the way; to turn aside. Also fig. Obs.
| 1578 Banister Hist. Man iv. 59 This muscle..hauying in office to euerte the foote to the interiour partes. 1650 Baxter Saints' R. i. viii. (1662) 141 The Will is thus everted from the fore-mentioned Objects. |
4. To turn the inner surface of (the eyelid, etc.) outwards; to turn inside out.
| 1804 [see everted ppl. a.]. 1821 T. Sandwith Observ. Med. & Surg. 99 The cheeks drawn downward in such a manner as to evert the lower eye-lids. 1839 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 38/1 The gullet and part of the stomach [of starfish] are usually everted, protruded, and applied round the object to be swallowed. 1871 Darwin Desc. Man II. xviii. 281 Muscles for everting the sack, and for closing or opening the orifice. 1879 G. C. Harlan Eyesight v. 51 It is a very simple and easy thing to evert the eyelid. |