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avert

 - 3 dictionary results

a⋅vert

  [uh-vurt]
Use avert in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to turn away or aside: to avert one's eyes.
2. to ward off; prevent: to avert evil; to avert an accident.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < MF avertir ≪ L āvertere, equiv. to ā- a- 4 + vertere to turn

Related forms:
a⋅vert⋅ed⋅ly, adverb
a⋅vert⋅er, noun
a⋅vert⋅i⋅ble, a⋅vert⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To avert
a·vert   (ə-vûrt')   
tr.v.   a·vert·ed, a·vert·ing, a·verts

  1. To turn away: avert one's eyes.

  2. To ward off (something about to happen); prevent: averted an accident by turning sharply. See Synonyms at prevent.


[Middle English averten, from Old French avertir, from Latin āvertere : ā-, ab-, away from; see ab-1 + vertere, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]
a·vert'i·ble, a·vert'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

avert 
1400, from O.Fr. avertir, from L. avertere "to turn away," from ab- "from, away" + vertere "to turn" see versus).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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