divert
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English diverten, Old French divertir (“to turn or go different ways, part, separate, divert”), from Latin di- (“apart”) + vertere (“to turn”); see verse.
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
divert (third-person singular simple present diverts, present participle diverting, simple past and past participle diverted)
- (transitive) To turn aside from a course.
- The workers diverted the stream away from the road.
- 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 99:
- Many of the remaining trains have been retimed and where possible freight trains have also been diverted to alternative routes.
- (transitive) To distract.
- Don't let him divert your attention; keep your eye on the ball.
- [1644], [John Milton], Of Education. To Master Samuel Hartlib, [London: Printed for Thomas Underhill and/or for Thomas Johnson], OCLC 946735316:
- that crude apple that diverted Eve
- (transitive) To entertain or amuse (by diverting the attention)
- (Can we date this quote by C. J. Smith and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- We are amused by a tale, diverted by a comedy.
- (Can we date this quote by C. J. Smith and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- (obsolete, intransitive) To turn aside; to digress.
- 1641 September 7, John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 28 August 1641 (Julian calendar)]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […] , volume I, 2nd edition, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1819, OCLC 976971842:
- I diverted to see one of the prince's palaces.
Synonyms[edit]
- (to lead away from a course): offlead
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
turn aside
distract
entertain
|
|
Further reading[edit]
- divert in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- divert in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911.
Anagrams[edit]
Categories:
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wert-
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- Requests for date/C. J. Smith
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English intransitive verbs