- deviate
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v. /dee"vee ayt'/; adj., n. /dee"vee it/, v., deviated, deviating, adj., n.v.i.1. to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc.2. to depart or swerve, as from a procedure, course of action, or acceptable norm.3. to digress, as from a line of thought or reasoning.v.t.4. to cause to swerve; turn aside.adj.5. characterized by deviation or departure from an accepted norm or standard, as of behavior.n.6. a person or thing that departs from the accepted norm or standard.7. a person whose sexual behavior departs from the norm in a way that is considered socially or morally unacceptable.8. Statistics. a variable equal to the difference between a variate and some fixed value, often the mean.[1625-35; < LL deviatus turned from the straight road, ptp. of deviare. See DEVIANT, -ATE1]Syn. 1. veer, wander, stray. DEVIATE, DIGRESS, DIVERGE, SWERVE imply turning or going aside from a path. TO DEVIATE is to turn or wander, often by slight degrees, from what is considered the most direct or desirable approach to a given physical, intellectual, or moral end: Fear caused him to deviate from the truth. TO DIGRESS is primarily to wander from the main theme or topic in writing or speaking: Some authors digress to relate entertaining episodes.Two paths DIVERGE when they proceed from a common point in such directions that the distance between them increases: The sides of an angle diverge from a common point. Their interests gradually diverged. TO SWERVE is to make a sudden or sharp turn from a line or course: The car swerved to avoid striking a pedestrian.
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Universalium. 2010.
