diversion

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diversion

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From Middle English diversion, dyversioun, from Medieval Latin diversiō, from Latin divertō (“to divert”); see divert.^[1][2][3]

• (General American) IPA^(key): /dɪˈvɝʒən/, /daɪˈvɝʒən/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (UK) IPA^(key): /daɪˈvɜːʃən/, /daɪˈvɜːʒən/

  • Audio (Received Pronunciation):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)ʒən, -ɜː(ɹ)ʃən

diversion (countable and uncountable, plural diversions)

1. (military) A tactic used to draw attention away from the real threat or action.
2. A hobby; an activity that distracts the mind.
   • 1640, Thomas Hobbes, The Elements of Law:

     Of those therefore that have attained to the highest degree of honour and riches, some have affected mastery in some art; as Nero in music and poetry, Commodus in the art of a gladiator. And such as affect not some such thing, must find diversion and recreation of their thoughts in the contention either of play, or business.

3. The act of diverting.
   • 1983, U.S. v. Sun Myung Moon 718 F.2d 1210 (1983):

     Further, in response to the trust defense raised at trial, the court did properly instruct the jury on partial diversion when it charged that the funds diverted to Moon's personal use became taxable "to the extent so diverted." Obviously, the word "divert" is in common enough use and understandable by ordinary jurors, so as to require no explanatory charge.

   • 2013 September 14, Jane Shilling, “The Golden Thread: the Story of Writing, by Ewan Clayton, review [print edition: Illuminating language]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review)‎^[1], page R29:

     Though his account of written communication over the past 5,000 years necessarily has a powerful forward momentum, his diversions down the fascinating byways of the subject are irresistible ...

4. Removal of water via a canal.
5. (transport) A detour, such as during road construction.
   • 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 102:

     An interesting feature in the weeks preceding the diversions was the provision of a road-learning train to familiarise main line drivers with the alternative route.

6. (transport) The rerouting of cargo or passengers to a new transshipment point or destination, or to a different mode of transportation before arrival at the ultimate destination.^[4]
7. (law) Officially halting or suspending a formal criminal or juvenile justice proceeding and referral of the accused person to a treatment or care program.

• (military): feint
• (hobby): See Thesaurus:hobby

• diverse
• diversity
• divert

• hobby
• distraction
• red herring

• “diversion”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “diversion”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

• vireonids

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin diversiōnem, from Latin divertō (“to divert”); see divert.

• IPA^(key): /di.vɛʁ.sjɔ̃/

diversion f (plural diversions)

1. diversion
2. pastime

   Synonym: passe-temps

3. entertainment

   Synonym: divertissement

• “diversion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

• dérivions, viderions