divert
UK[daɪˈvɜːt]US[daɪˈvɜːrt]
v
To cause something or someone to change direction or follow a different route.
v
To distract someone's attention from something.
v
To entertain or amuse someone.
Morpheme Breakdown
di
vert
di
apart
vert
turn
Etymology
The word 'divert' entered English in the late 14th century from the Old French 'divertir', which itself was derived from the Latin 'divertere', a composite of 'di-' (apart, away) and 'vertere' (to turn). The core Latin verb 'vertere' can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root wert- (to turn, to rotate). The original literal meaning, "to turn aside," remains central. Over time, the concept of turning attention away from one thing to another led to the figurative senses of distraction and entertainment, as one's focus is metaphorically "turned" towards a more amusing or engaging subject.
Analysis
Structure: di (apart) + vert (turn)
The prefix 'di-' (also 'dis-') originates from Latin, meaning 'apart' or 'in different directions'. The root 'vert' comes from the Latin verb 'vertere', meaning 'to turn'.
Examples
The construction will divert traffic onto a side road for several weeks.
He tried to divert the reporter's attention by changing the subject.
The clown's antics were enough to divert the children for hours.