Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-VERT', v.t. [L. averto, a, from, and verto, to turn, anciently, vorto; hence vertex, vortex, averto; probably allied to L. vario; Eng. veer; Sp. birar; Eth. በረየ bari. Class Br.]

1. To turn from; to turn off or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object. – Shak.
2. To keep off, divert or prevent; as, to avert an approaching calamity. – Hooker.
3. To cause to dislike. – Hooker. But this sense seems to be improper, except when heart or some equivalent word is used; as, to avert the heart or affections, which may signify to alienate the affections. – Thomson.