different between bewitch vs divert

English

Etymology

From Middle English bewicchen, bewycchen, biwicchen, equivalent to be- +? witch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /b??w?t?/
• Rhymes: -?t?

Verb

bewitch (third-person singular simple present bewitches, present participle bewitching, simple past and past participle bewitched)

1. (transitive) To cast a spell upon.
2. (transitive) To fascinate or charm.

   Synonym: forspeak (obsolete)

3. (transitive) To astonish, amaze. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Derived terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English diverten, Old French divertir (“to turn or go different ways, part, separate, divert”), from Latin di- (“apart”) + vertere (“to turn”); see verse.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /da??v??t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /da??v?t/, /d??v?t/
• Rhymes: -??(r)t

Verb

divert (third-person singular simple present diverts, present participle diverting, simple past and past participle diverted)

1. (transitive) To turn aside from a course.
2. (transitive) To distract.
3. (transitive) To entertain or amuse (by diverting the attention)
   • 1871, Charles John Smith, Synonyms Discriminated

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

4. (obsolete, intransitive) To turn aside; to digress.

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

Synonyms

• (to lead away from a course): offlead

Related terms

• diversion
• diversity
• diverse

Translations

Further reading

• divert in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• divert in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• verdit