Emily Dickinson Lexicon

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.