subvertunt

Subvertunt is a Latin verb form meaning “they overturn” or “they subvert.” It is the third-person plural present active indicative of subverto, subvertere, which means to overturn, overthrow, or subvert. The form is used in classical and later Latin to describe actions that disrupt established order, rule, or custom.

Etymology and form: Subverto is built from sub- “under” and vertere “to turn,” with the sense of turning something away from its normal course. Subvertunt follows ordinary Latin verb conjugation in the present indicative, active voice. Related forms include subvertis (you all overturn), subvertit (he/she/it overturns), subvertunt (they overturn), and the passive counterpart subvertuntur (they are overturned). The noun subversio denotes an overthrow or subversion, and subversus is an adjective meaning overturned or subverted.

Usage: In Latin, subvertunt appears in sentences where multiple subjects perform overturning or undermining actions. It commonly appears in contexts involving political, legal, or social disruption. The related noun subversio and the adjective subversus help convey the scope and effect of such acts. As a present-tense form, subvertunt emphasizes ongoing action in narrative or descriptive prose rather than completed events.

Examples: Imperatores leges subvertunt. The emperors overthrow the laws. Cives mores subvertunt. The citizens subvert the customs. These examples illustrate how the verb frames ongoing disruption of institutions or norms, a frequent theme in discussions of political upheaval in Latin literature.

See also: Subvert and subversion in English; subversio (subversion); subversus (overturned). Subvertunt is a grammatical form rather than a standalone concept and is principally encountered within Latin texts describing upheaval or undermining actions.

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