To turn aside from a course or direction: Traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident.
To distract: My attention was diverted by an argument between motorists.
To entertain by distracting the attention from worrisome thoughts or cares; amuse. See Synonyms at amuse.
v.
intr.
To turn aside.
[Middle English diverten, from Old French divertir, from Latin dīvertere : dī-, dis-, aside; see dis- + vertere, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]
1430, from M.Fr. divertir, from L. divertere "in different directions," blended with devertere "turn aside," from dis- "aside" and de- "from" + vertere "to turn" (see versus).
A*muse"\ ([.a]*m[=u]z"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amused ([.a]*m[=u]zd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Amusing.] [F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, [`a] (L. ad) + OF. muser. See Muse, v.]1. To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder. [Obs.] Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold. --Holland. Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house. --Fuller. 2. To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert. A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake. --Gilpin. 3. To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude. He amused his followers with idle promises. --Johnson. Syn: To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy. Usage: To Amuse, Divert, Entertain. We are amused by that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a laughable incident. Whatever amuses serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever entertains usually awakens the understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects. --Crabb.
Di"vers\, a. [F. divers, L. diversus turned in different directions, different, p. p. of divertere. See Divert, and cf. Diverse.]1. Different in kind or species; diverse. [Obs.] Every sect of them hath a divers posture. --Bacon. Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds. --Deut. xxii. 9. 2. Several; sundry; various; more than one, but not a great number; as, divers philosophers. Also used substantively or pronominally. Divers of Antonio's creditors. --Shak. Note: Divers is now limited to the plural; as, divers ways (not divers way). Besides plurality it ordinarily implies variety of kind.
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