civil & Scots law, obsolete
: to be guilty of malversation

Word History

Etymology

French malverser, from Middle French, from mal badly + verser to turn, occupy oneself, from Latin versare to turn, transform, from versus, past participle of vertere to turn

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near malverse

Cite this Entry

“Malverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malverse. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!