divert

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.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /daɪˈvɜːt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /daɪˈvɝt/, /dɪˈvɝt/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)t

• Audio (US)

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divert (third-person singular simple present diverts, present participle diverting, simple past and past participle diverted)

1. (transitive) To turn aside from a course.

   The workers diverted the stream away from the road.

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     that crude apple that diverted Eve

2. (transitive) To distract.

   Don't let him divert your attention; keep your eye on the ball.

3. (transitive) To entertain or amuse (by diverting the attention)
   • (Can we date this quote?) C. J. Smith

     We are amused by a tale, diverted by a comedy.

4. (obsolete, intransitive) To turn aside; to digress.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Evelyn

     I diverted to see one of the prince's palaces.

• (to lead away from a course): offlead

• diversion
• diversity
• diverse

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

• verdit