avert

[uh-vurt]

verb (used with object)

to turn away or aside: to avert one's eyes.

to ward off; prevent: to avert evil; to avert an accident.

Origin of avert

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French avertir ≪ Latin āvertere, equivalent to ā- a-⁴ + vertere to turn

Related formsa·vert·ed·ly, adverba·vert·er, nouna·vert·i·ble, a·vert·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·vert·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for avertedly

Historical Examples of avertedly

Then, as he avertedly drew the letter from his bosom, he whispered to himself—Out on thee, Pierre!
Pierre; or The Ambiguities
Herman Melville

British Dictionary definitions for avertedly

avert

verb (tr)

to turn away or asideto avert one's gaze

to ward off; prevent from occurringto avert danger

Derived Formsavertible or avertable, adjective

Word Origin for avert

C15: from Old French avertir, from Latin āvertere; see averse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for avertedly

avert

c.1400, from Old French avertir (12c.), "turn, direct; avert; make aware," from Vulgar Latin *advertire, from Latin avertere "to turn away, to drive away," from ab- "from, away" (see ab-) + vertere "to turn" (see versus). Related: Averted; averting.