Main Entry: ¹de·vi·ate

Pronunciation: \ˈdē-vē-ˌāt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): de·vi·at·ed; de·vi·at·ing

Etymology: Late Latin deviatus, past participle of deviare, from Latin de- + via way — more at way

Date: circa 1633

intransitive verb 1 : to stray especially from a standard, principle, or topic
2 : to depart from an established course or norm <a flight forced by weather to deviate south>transitive verb : to cause to turn out of a previous course

synonyms see swerve

— de·vi·a·tor \-ˌā-tər\ noun

— de·vi·a·to·ry \-ə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective