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Webster 1913 Edition

Avert

A-vert′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Averted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Averting
.]
[L.
avertere
;
a
,
ab
+
vertere
to turn: cf. OF.
avertir
. See
Verse
,
Noun.
]
To turn aside, or away;
as, to
avert
the eyes from an object
; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of;
as, how can the danger be
averted
?
“To avert his ire.”
Milton.
When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth
avert
them from the church.
Bacon.
Till ardent prayer
averts
the public woe.
Prior.

A-vert′

,
Verb.
I.
To turn away.
[Archaic]
Cold and
averting
from our neighbor’s good.
Thomson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Avert

AVERT'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. averto, a, from, and verto, to turn, anciently, vorto; hence vertex, vortex, averto; probably allied to L. vario; Eng. veer.]
1.
To turn from; to turn off or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object.
2.
To keep off, divert or prevent; as, to avert an approaching calamity.
3.
To cause to dislike. 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.

AVERT'

,
Verb.
I.
To turn away.

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