divorced
UK[dɪˈvɔːst]US[dɪˈvɔːrst]
adj
No longer married because the marriage has been legally ended
adj
Separated from or having no connection with something
Morpheme Breakdown
di
vorc
ed
di
apart
vorc
to turn
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'divorced' originates from the Latin verb 'divortere' or 'divertere,' meaning "to turn aside" or "to separate." This verb is composed of the prefix 'di-' (apart) and 'vertere' (to turn), painting a literal picture of turning away from a shared path. It entered Middle English via Old French as a legal term for the dissolution of marriage, conceptualizing the end of a union as a formal turning apart of two lives. The modern adjective 'divorced' retains this core sense of legal and personal separation, extending metaphorically to describe any complete break from a former state or association.
Analysis
Structure: di (apart) + vorc (to turn) + ed (adjective suffix)
- di: A Latin prefix meaning "apart" or "in different directions."
- vorc: A root from the Latin verb 'vertere' (to turn), appearing here in a variant form.
- ed: An English suffix forming adjectives from verbs or nouns, indicating a state or condition.
Examples
She has been divorced for five years.
His ideas are completely divorced from reality.
After the scandal, the company sought to become divorced from its former CEO.