Dictionary: DI'VERS – DI-VEST'ING

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DI'VERS, a. [s as z; Fr. divers; L. diversus, from diverto; di, dis, and verto, to turn.]

  1. Different; various. Thou shalt not sow thy fields with divers seeds. – Deut. xxii. Nor let thy cattle gender with divers kinds. – Lev. xix. [This is now generally written diverse.]
  2. Several; sundry; more than one, but not a great number. We have divers examples of this kind. [This word is not obsolete even in common discourse, and is much used in law proceedings.]

DI'VERS-COL-OR-ED, a.

Having various colors. – Shak.

DI'VERSE, a. [L. diversus.]

  1. Different; differing. Four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse from one another. – Dan. vii.
  2. Different from itself; various; multiform. Eloquence is a diverse thing. – B. Jonson.
  3. In different directions. And with tendrils creep diverse. – Philips.

DI-VERSE', v.i. [divers'.]

To turn aside. [Not used.] – Spenser.

DI-VERSE-I-FI-CA'TION, n. [See Diversify.]

  1. The act of changing forms or qualities, or of making various. – Boyle.
  2. Variation; variegation.
  3. Variety of forms. – Hale.
  4. Change; alteration.

DI-VERS'I-FIED, pp.

  1. Made various in form or qualities; variegated; altered.
  2. adj. Distinguished by various forms, or by a variety of objects; as, diversified scenery; a diversified landscape.

DI-VERS'I-FORM, a. [L. diversus and forma.]

Of a different form; of various forms. – Dict.

DI-VERS'I-FY, v.t. [Fr. diversifier; Sp. diversificar; L. diversus and facio.]

  1. To make different or various in form or qualities; to give variety to; to variegate; as, to diversify the colors of a robe; to diversify a landscape with mountains, plains, trees and lakes.
  2. To give diversity to; to distinguish by different things; as, a council diversified by different characters.
  3. In oratory, to vary a subject, by enlarging on what has been briefly stated, by brief recapitulation, by adding new ideas, by transposing words or periods, &c.

DI-VERS'I-FY-ING, ppr.

Making various in form or qualities; giving variety to; variegating.

DI-VERS-IL'O-QUENT, a. [L. diversus and eloquor.]

Speaking in different ways.

DI-VER'SION, n. [Fr. from L. diverto, to divert.]

  1. The act of turning aside from any course, as the diversion of a stream from its usual channel; the diversion of a purpose to another object; the diversion of the mind from business or study.
  2. That which diverts; that which turns or draws the mind from care, business or study, and thus relaxes and amuses; sport; play; pastime; whatever unbends the mind; as, the diversions of youth. Works of wit and humor furnish an agreeable diversion to the studious.
  3. In war, the act of drawing the attention and force of an enemy from the point where the principal attack is to made, as by an attack or alarm on one wing of an army, when the other wing or center is intended for the principle attack. The enemy, if deceived, is thus induced to withdraw a part of his force from the part where his foe intends to make the main impression.

DI-VERS'I-TY, n. [L. diversitas; Fr. diversité; from L. diversus, diverto.]

  1. Difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness. There may be diversity without contrariety. There is a great diversity in human constitutions.
  2. Variety; as, a diversity of ceremonies in churches.
  3. Distinct being, as opposed to identity. – Locke.
  4. Variegation. Blushing in bright diversities of day. – Pope.

DI-VERS'LY, adv. [from diverse.]

  1. In different ways; differently; variously; as, a passage of Scripture diversely interpreted or understood.
  2. In different directions; to different points. On life's vast ocean diversely we sail. – Pope.

DI-VERT', v.t. [L. diverto; di, dis, and verto, to turn; Fr. divertir; Sp. id.; It. divertire.]

  1. To turn off from any course, direction or intended application; to turn aside; as, to divert a river from its usual channel; to divert commerce from its usual course; to divert appropriated money to other objects; to divert a man from his purpose.
  2. To turn the mind from business or study; hence, to please; to amuse; to entertain; to exhilarate. Children are diverted with sports; men are diverted with works of wit and humor; low minds are diverted with buffoonery in stage-playing.
  3. To draw the forces of an enemy to a different point. – Davies.
  4. To subvert. [Not in use.] – Shak.

DI-VERT'ED, pp.

Turned aside; turned or drawn from any course, or from the usual or intended direction; pleased; amused; entertained.

DI-VERT'ER, n.

He or that which diverts, turns off, or pleases.

DI-VERT'I-CLE, n. [L. diverticulum.]

A turning; a by-way. [Not used.] – Hale.

DI-VERT'ING, ppr.

  1. Turning off from any course; pleasing; entertaining.
  2. adj. Pleasing; amusing; entertaining; as, a diverting scene or sport.

DI-VERT'ING-LY, adv.

In an amusing or entertaining manner.

DI-VERT-ISE, v.t. [s as z; Fr. divertir, divertissant.]

To divert; to please. [Not used.] Dryden.

DI-VERT'ISE-MENT, n.

Diversion. [Little used.] Originally a certain air or dance between the acts of the French opera, or a musical composition.

DI-VERT'IVE, a.

Tending to divert; amusing. – Rogers.

DI-VEST', v.t. [Fr. devêtir; de and vêtir, to clothe, L. vestio. It is the same word as devest, but the latter is appropriately used as a technical term in law.]

  1. To strip of clothes, arms or equipage; opposed to invest.
  2. To deprive; as, to divest one of his rights or privileges; to divest one of title or property.
  3. To deprive or strip of any thing that covers, surrounds or attends; as, to divest one of his glory; to divest a subject of deceptive appearances, or false ornaments.

DI-VEST'ED, pp.

Stripped; undressed; deprived.

DI-VEST'ING, pp.

Stripping; putting off; depriving.