divert Copy link Outline I. To turn off the waters of a river1. dērīvo, 12. āverto, ti, sum, 3II. To turn the attention or emotions in a new direction1. dērīvo, 12. āverto, ti, sum, 33. dēpello, pŭli, pulsum, 3 (like averto, to induce to abandon)4. āvŏco, 1 (to call off or be the means of doing so)5. dēvŏco, 16. abdūco, xi, ctum, 3III. To amuse1. oblecto, 1 (for diff. from delecto, comp. AMUSEMENT, fin.)2. lūdo, si, sum, 3 (to d. oneself)IV. As milit. t. t.1. distringo, nxi, ctum, 32. distrăho, xi, ctum, 3 • divert: I. To turn off the waters of a river: 1. dērīvo, 1: v. to draw off. 2. āverto, ti, sum, 3: to d. rivers: flumina a., Cic. II. To turn the attention or emotions in a new direction: 1. dērīvo, 1: to d. any one's anger and turn it on oneself, iram alicujus in se d., Cic. 2. āverto, ti, sum, 3: to d. a person from an undertaking, aliquem ab incepto a., Liv. 3. dēpello, pŭli, pulsum, 3 (like averto, to induce to abandon): to d. a person from his expectation and aim, aliquem de spe conatuque d., Cic. 4. āvŏco, 1 (to call off or be the means of doing so): pleasure has never d.'d my attention from (seeking) another's good, ab nullius unquam commodo voluptas me avocavit, Cic. 5. dēvŏco, 1: v. to call away. 6. abdūco, xi, ctum, 3: v. to draw off (fig.). III. To amuse: 1. oblecto, 1 (for diff. from delecto, comp. amusement, fin.): v. to amuse. 2. lūdo, si, sum, 3 (to d. oneself): the mind d.s itself with such pursuits, l. in istis animus, Sen.: v. to play. IV. As milit. t. t.: 1. distringo, nxi, ctum, 3: to d. the enemy's forces, ad distringendas copias hostium, Liv. 2. distrăho, xi, ctum, 3: to d. the enemy's attention, distrahendo hosti (better, ad distrahendum hostem), Tac. Comp. to distract.