Diuturnity Di`u·tur"ni·ty noun [ Latin diuturnitas .] Long duration; lastingness. [ R.] Sir T. Browne.

Diva Di"va (dē"vȧ) noun ; Italian plural Dive (dē"vā). [ Italian , prop. fem. of divo divine, Latin divus .] A prima donna.

Divagation Di`va·ga"tion noun [ Latin divagari to wander about; di- = dis- + vagari to stroll about: confer French divagation . See Vagary .] A wandering about or going astray; digression.

Let us be set down at Queen's Crawley without further divagation .

Thackeray.

Divalent Div"a·lent adjective [ Prefix di- + Latin valens , valentis , present participle See Valence .] (Chemistry) Having two units of combining power; bivalent. Confer Valence .

Divan Di·van" noun [ Persian dīwān a book of many leaves, an account book, a collection of books, a senate, council: confer Arabic daiwān , French divan .] 1. A book; esp., a collection of poems written by one author; as, the divan of Hafiz. [ Persia]

2. In Turkey and other Oriental countries: A council of state; a royal court. Also used by the poets for a grand deliberative council or assembly. Pope.

3. A chief officer of state. [ India]

4. A saloon or hall where a council is held, in Oriental countries, the state reception room in places, and in the houses of the richer citizens. Cushions on the floor or on benches are ranged round the room.

5. A cushioned seat, or a large, low sofa or couch; especially, one fixed to its place, and not movable.

6. A coffee and smoking saloon. [ Colloq.]

Divaricate Di·var"i·cate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Divaricated ; present participle & verbal noun Divaricating .] [ Latin divaricatus , past participle of divaricare to stretch apart; di- = dis- + varicare to straddle, from varicus straddling, from varus stretched outwards.] 1. To part into two branches; to become bifid; to fork.

2. To diverge; to be divaricate. Woodward.

Divaricate Di·var"i·cate transitive verb To divide into two branches; to cause to branch apart.

Divaricate Di·var"i·cate adjective [ Latin divaricatus , past participle ] 1. Diverging; spreading asunder; widely diverging.

2. (Biol.) Forking and diverging; widely diverging; as the branches of a tree, or as lines of sculpture, or color markings on animals, etc.

Divaricately Di·var"i·cate·ly adverb With divarication.

Divarication Di·var`i·ca"tion noun [ Confer French divarication .] 1. A separation into two parts or branches; a forking; a divergence.

2. An ambiguity of meaning; a disagreement of difference in opinion. Sir T. Browne.

3. (Biol.) A divergence of lines of color sculpture, or of fibers at different angles.

Divaricator Di·var`i·ca"tor noun (Zoology) One of the muscles which open the shell of brachiopods; a cardinal muscle. See Illust. of Brachiopoda .

Divast Di·vast" adjective Devastated; laid waste. [ Obsolete]

Dive Dive (dīv) intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Dived (dīvd), colloq . Dove (dōv), a relic of the Anglo-Saxon strong forms deáf , dofen ; present participle & verbal noun Diving .] [ Middle English diven , duven , Anglo-Saxon dȳfan to sink, transitive verb , from dūfan , intransitive verb ; akin to Icelandic dȳfa , German taufen , English dip , deep , and perhaps to dove , noun Confer Dip .] 1. To plunge into water head foremost; to thrust the body under, or deeply into, water or other fluid.

It is not that pearls fetch a high price because men have dived for them.

Whately.

» The colloquial form dove is common in the United States as an imperfect tense form.

All [ the walruses] dove down with a tremendous splash.

Dr. Hayes.

When closely pressed it [ the loon] dove . . . and left the young bird sitting in the water.

J. Burroughs.

2. Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore. South.

Dive Dive transitive verb 1. To plunge (a person or thing) into water; to dip; to duck. [ Obsolete] Hooker.

2. To explore by diving; to plunge into. [ R.]

The Curtii bravely dived the gulf of fame.

Denham.

He dives the hollow, climbs the steeps.

Emerson.

Dive Dive noun 1. A plunge headforemost into water, the act of one who dives, literally or figuratively.

2. A place of low resort; a dispreputable bar or nightclub; a dingy hotel; a joint. [ Slang]

The music halls and dives in the lower part of the city.

J. Hawthorne.

Divedapper Dive"dap`per noun [ See Dive , Didapper .] (Zoology) A water fowl; the didapper. See Dabchick .

Divel Di·vel" transitive verb [ Latin divellere ; dit- = dis- + vellere to pluck.] To rend apart. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

Divellent Di·vel"lent adjective [ Latin divellens , present participle] Drawing asunder. [ R.]

Divellicate Di·vel"li·cate transitive verb [ Latin di- = vellicatus , past participle of vellicare to pluck, from vellere to pull.] To pull in pieces. [ Obsolete or R.]

Diver Div"er noun 1. One who, or that which, dives.

Divers and fishers for pearls.

Woodward.

2. Fig.: One who goes deeply into a subject, study, or business. "A diver into causes." Sir H. Wotton.

3. (Zoology) Any bird of certain genera, as Urinator (formerly Colymbus ), or the allied genus Colymbus , or Podiceps , remarkable for their agility in diving.

» The northern diver ( Urinator imber ) is the loon; the black diver or velvet scoter ( Oidemia fusca ) is a sea duck. See Loon , and Scoter .

Diverb Di"verb noun [ Latin diverbium the colloquial part of a comedy, dialogue; di- = dis- + verbum word.] A saying in which two members of the sentence are contrasted; an antithetical proverb. [ Obsolete]

Italy, a paradise for horses, a hell for women, as the diverb goes.

Burton.

Diverberate Di·ver"ber·ate transitive verb [ Latin diverberatus , past participle of diverberare to strike asunder; di- = dis- + verberare . See Verberate .] To strike or sound through. [ R.] Davies (Holy Roode).

Diverberation Di·ver`ber·a"tion noun A sounding through.

Diverge Di·verge" intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Diverged ; present participle & verbal noun Diverging .] [ Latin di- = dis- + vergere to bend, incline. See Verge .] 1. To extend from a common point in different directions; to tend from one point and recede from each other; to tend to spread apart; to turn aside or deviate (as from a given direction); -- opposed to converge ; as, rays of light diverge as they proceed from the sun.

2. To differ from a typical form; to vary from a normal condition; to dissent from a creed or position generally held or taken.

Divergement Di·verge"ment noun Divergence.

Divergence, Divergency Di·ver"gence, Di·ver"gen·cy noun [ Confer French divergence .] 1. A receding from each other in moving from a common center; the state of being divergent; as, an angle is made by the divergence of straight lines.

Rays come to the eye in a state of divergency .

...................

2. Disagreement; difference.

Related with some divergence by other writers.

Sir G. C. Lewis.

Divergent Di·ver"gent adjective [ Confer French divergent . See Diverge .] 1. Receding farther and farther from each other, as lines radiating from one point; deviating gradually from a given direction; -- opposed to convergent .

2. (Optics) Causing divergence of rays; as, a divergent lens.

3. Fig.: Disagreeing from something given; differing; as, a divergent statement.

Divergent series . (Math.) See Diverging series , under Diverging .

Diverging Di·ver"ging adjective Tending in different directions from a common center; spreading apart; divergent.

Diverging series (Math.) , a series whose terms are larger as the series is extended; a series the sum of whose terms does not approach a finite limit when the series is extended indefinitely; -- opposed to a converging series .

Divergingly Di·ver"ging·ly adverb In a diverging manner.

Divers Di"vers adjective [ French divers , Latin diversus turned in different directions, different, past participle of divertere . See Divert , and confer Diverse .] 1. Different in kind or species; diverse. [ Obsolete]

Every sect of them hath a divers posture.

Bacon.

Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds.

Deut. xxii. 9.

2. Several; sundry; various; more than one, but not a great number; as, divers philosophers. Also used substantively or pronominally.

Divers of Antonio's creditors.

Shak.

» Divers is now limited to the plural; as, divers ways (not divers way ). Besides plurality it ordinarily implies variety of kind.

Diverse Di"verse adjective [ The same word as divers . See Divers .] 1. Different; unlike; dissimilar; distinct; separate.

The word . . . is used in a sense very diverse from its original import.

J. Edwards.

Our roads are diverse : farewell, love! said she.

R. Browning.

2. Capable of various forms; multiform.

Eloquence is a great and diverse thing.

B. Jonson.

Diverse Di·verse" adverb In different directions; diversely.

diverse di·verse" (dĭ*vẽrs") intransitive verb To turn aside. [ Obsolete]

The redcross knight diverst , but forth rode Britomart.

Spenser.

Diversely Di"verse·ly adverb 1. In different ways; differently; variously. " Diversely interpreted." Bacon.

How diversely love doth his pageants play.

Spenser.

2. In different directions; to different points.

On life's vast ocean diversely we sail.

Pope.

Diverseness Di·verse"ness noun The quality of being diverse.

Diversifiability Di·ver`si·fi`a·bil"i·ty noun The quality or capacity of being diversifiable. Earle.

Diversifiable Di·ver"si·fi`a·ble adjective Capable of being diversified or varied. Boyle.

Diversification Di·ver`si·fi·ca"tion noun [ See Diversify .] 1. The act of making various, or of changing form or quality. Boyle.

2. State of diversity or variation; variegation; modification; change; alternation.

Infinite diversifications of tints may be produced.

Adventurer.

Diversified Di·ver"si·fied adjective Distinguished by various forms, or by a variety of aspects or objects; variegated; as, diversified scenery or landscape.

Diversifier Di·ver"si·fi`er noun One who, or that which, diversifies.

Diversiform Di·ver"si·form adjective [ Latin diversus diverse + -form .] Of a different form; of varied forms.

Diversify Di·ver"si·fy transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Diversified ; present participle & verbal noun Diversifying .] [ French diversifier , Late Latin diversificare , from Latin diversus diverse + ficare (in comp.), akin to facere to make. See Diverse .] To make diverse or various in form or quality; to give variety to; to variegate; to distinguish by numerous differences or aspects.

Separated and diversified on from another.

Locke.

Its seven colors, that diversify all the face of nature.

I. Taylor.

Diversiloquent Di`ver·sil"o·quent adjective [ Latin diversus diverse + loquens , present participle of loqui to speak.] Speaking in different ways. [ R.]

Diversion Di·ver"sion noun [ Confer French diversion . See Divert .] 1. The act of turning aside from any course, occupation, or object; as, the diversion of a stream from its channel; diversion of the mind from business.

2. That which diverts; that which turns or draws the mind from care or study, and thus relaxes and amuses; sport; play; pastime; as, the diversions of youth. "Public diversions ." V. Knox.

Such productions of wit and humor as expose vice and folly, furnish useful diversion to readers.

Addison.

3. (Mil.) The act of drawing the attention and force of an enemy from the point where the principal attack is to be made; the attack, alarm, or feint which diverts.

Syn. -- Amusement; entertainment; pastime; recreation; sport; game; play; solace; merriment.

Diversity Di·ver"si·ty noun ; plural Diversities . [ French diversité , Latin diversitas , from diversus . See Diverse .] 1. A state of difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness.

They will prove opposite; and not resting in a bare diversity , rise into a contrariety.

South.

2. Multiplicity of difference; multiformity; variety. " Diversity of sounds." Shak. " Diversities of opinion." Secker.

3. Variegation. "Bright diversities of day." Pope.

Syn. -- See Variety .

Diversivolent Di`ver·siv"o·lent adjective [ Latin diversus diverse + volens , -entis , present participle of velle to wish.] Desiring different things. [ Obsolete] Webster (White Devil).

Diversory Di·ver"so·ry adjective Serving or tending to divert; also, distinguishing. [ Obsolete]

Diversory Di·ver"so·ry noun [ Latin diversorium , deversorium , an inn or lodging.] A wayside inn. [ Obsolete or R.] Chapman.

Divert Di·vert" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Diverted ; present participle & verbal noun Diverting .] [ French divertir , from Latin divertere , diversum , to go different ways, turn aside; di- = dis- + vertere to turn. See Verse , and confer Divorce .] 1. To turn aside; to turn off from any course or intended application; to deflect; as, to divert a river from its channel; to divert commerce from its usual course.

That crude apple that diverted Eve.

Milton.

2. To turn away from any occupation, business, or study; to cause to have lively and agreeable sensations; to amuse; to entertain; as, children are diverted with sports; men are diverted with works of wit and humor.

We are amused by a tale, diverted by a comedy.

C. J. Smith.

Syn. -- To please; gratify; amuse; entertain; exhilarate; delight; recreate. See Amuse .

Divert Di·vert" intransitive verb To turn aside; to digress. [ Obsolete]

I diverted to see one of the prince's palaces.

Evelyn.

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