deviate
UK[ˈdiːvieɪt]US[ˈdiːvieɪt]
v
to start to do something different from what is expected or agreed
v
to be different from something; to do something in a different way from what is usual or expected
Morpheme Breakdown
de
via
ate
de
away
via
road
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word 'deviate' originates from the latin verb 'deviare', which is a compound of the prefix 'de-' meaning 'away from' and the noun 'via' meaning 'road' or 'way'. its literal sense was 'to turn aside from the road or path'. this concrete image of leaving a prescribed path was carried through late latin and into english, where it first appeared in the 16th century. over time, the meaning broadened from a physical turning aside to encompass any departure from a standard, expected course of action, thought, or behavior, abstracting the core logic of moving away from an established route.
Analysis
Structure: de (away) + via (road) + ate (verb suffix)
de- (latin origin, prefix meaning 'away from, off'), via (latin origin, meaning 'road, way'), -ate (latin origin, suffix forming verbs meaning 'to act in a specified manner').
Examples
the plane had to deviate from its planned course to avoid the storm.
he never deviated from his belief in social justice.
this year's sales figures deviate significantly from the predicted trend.