divers
UK[ˈdaɪvəz]US[ˈdaɪvərz]
adj
Of various kinds; several.
noun, plural
Various people or things; a group of people engaged in underwater diving.
Etymology
The word 'divers' entered English from Old French, carrying the core Latin sense of 'turned apart' or 'separate'. This literal notion of separation evolved logically into the abstract meaning of 'various' or 'several', implying distinct and different items gathered together. While historically related to 'diverse', in modern English 'divers' has become a distinct, somewhat archaic or literary adjective and a plural noun form for 'diver'. Its journey reflects a semantic shift from an action (turning aside) to a state (being different) and finally to a collective description (several kinds).
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It originates from the Old French 'divers', meaning 'various, different, singular', which itself came from the Latin 'diversus', the past participle of 'divertere' meaning 'to turn aside, separate, oppose'.
Examples
The store sold divers goods from across the continent.
He failed for divers reasons, which he preferred not to discuss.
A team of divers explored the coral reef.