detour
UK[ˈdiːtʊə(r)]US[ˈdiːtʊr]
n
a longer or less direct route taken to avoid something or to visit somewhere.
v
to take a longer or less direct route.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
tour
de
away from, off
tour
to turn
Etymology
the word 'detour' entered english in the 18th century from the french 'détour', which itself derives from the old french verb 'destourer', meaning 'to turn aside'. this old french term is a compound of the prefix 'des-' (meaning 'away, off', from latin 'de-') and 'tourer' (meaning 'to turn'). the latin root 'de-' implies a reversal or removal, while the turning action is captured by 'tour', ultimately from the latin 'tornare', meaning 'to turn on a lathe'. thus, the literal sense of 'a turning away' evolved into the modern meaning of a deviation from the direct or intended path.
Analysis
Structure: de + tour
de- (latin origin, prefix meaning 'away from, off'); tour (french origin, from old french 'torner', meaning 'to turn')
Examples
we had to make a detour around the road construction.
the sign warned drivers to detour through the next town.
his career took an unexpected detour into teaching before he returned to law.