diversion

From French diversion, from Medieval Latin diversio, from Latin divertere, past participle diversus (“to divert”); see divert.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /dɪˈvɝʒən/, /daɪˈvɝʒən/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /daɪˈvɜːʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)ʒən

diversion (countable and uncountable, plural diversions)

1. (military) A tactic used to draw attention away from the real threat or action.
2. A hobby; an activity that distracts the mind.
   • 1640, Thomas Hobbes, The Elements of Law:

     Of those therefore that have attained to the highest degree of honour and riches, some have affected mastery in some art; as Nero in music and poetry, Commodus in the art of a gladiator. And such as affect not some such thing, must find diversion and recreation of their thoughts in the contention either of play, or business.

3. The act of diverting.
   • 1983, U.S. v. Sun Myung Moon 718 F.2d 1210 (1983):

     Further, in response to the trust defense raised at trial, the court did properly instruct the jury on partial diversion when it charged that the funds diverted to Moon's personal use became taxable "to the extent so diverted." Obviously, the word "divert" is in common enough use and understandable by ordinary jurors, so as to require no explanatory charge.

   • 2013 September 14, Jane Shilling, “The Golden Thread: the Story of Writing, by Ewan Clayton, review [print edition: Illuminating language]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review)‎, page R29:

     Though his account of written communication over the past 5,000 years necessarily has a powerful forward momentum, his diversions down the fascinating byways of the subject are irresistible ...

4. Removal of water via a canal.
5. (transport) A detour, such as during road construction
6. (transport) The rerouting of cargo or passengers to a new transshipment point or destination, or to a different mode of transportation before arrival at the ultimate destination[1].
7. (law) Officially halting or suspending a formal criminal or juvenile justice proceeding and referral of the accused person to a treatment or care program.

• (hobby): See also Thesaurus:hobby

• diverse
• diversity
• divert

• hobby
• distraction
• red herring

• diversion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• diversion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

• vireonids

diversion f (plural diversions)

1. pastime, diversion, entertainment

• divertir

• “diversion” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

• dérivions
• viderions