different between diversion vs mirth

English

Etymology

From French diversion, from Medieval Latin diversio, from Latin divertere, past participle diversus (“to divert”); see divert.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /d??v???n/, /da??v???n/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /da??v????n/, /da??v????n/
• Rhymes: -??(?)??n

Noun

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.
3. The act of diverting.
4. Removal of water via a canal.
5. (transport) A detour, such as during road construction.
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.
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.

Synonyms

• (military): faint
• (hobby): See also Thesaurus:hobby

Related terms

• diverse
• diversity
• divert

Translations

See also

• hobby
• distraction
• red herring

Further reading

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

References

Anagrams

• vireonids

French

Noun

diversion f (plural diversions)

1. pastime, diversion, entertainment

Derived terms

• faire diversion

Related terms

• divertir

Further reading

• “diversion” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• dérivions
• viderions

English

Etymology

From Middle English merth, myrthe, murhthe, from Old English mergþ, mirgþ, myrgþ (“mirth, joy”), from Proto-Germanic *murgiþ? (“briefness, brevity”); equivalent to merry +? -th.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /m???/, [m??]; enPR: mûrth
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /m???/
• Rhymes: -??(?)?

Noun

mirth (usually uncountable, plural mirths)

1. The emotion usually following humour and accompanied by laughter; merriment; jollity; gaiety.
   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:

     And he began to laugh again, and that so heartily, that, though I did not see the joke as he did, I was again obliged to join him in his mirth.

   • 1912, Willa Cather, The Bohemian Girl:

     Their eyes met and they began to laugh. They laughed as children do when they cannot contain themselves, and can not explain the cause of their mirth to grown people, but share it perfectly together.

2. That which causes merriment.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     Phantasmal mirth, folded away: muskperfumed.

Synonyms

• (emotion): delight, glee, hilarity, jollity

Antonyms

• (emotion): sadness, gloom

Derived terms

Translations

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English myrgþ.

Noun

mirth

1. Alternative form of myrthe

Etymology 2

Derived from myrthe (noun).

Verb

mirth

1. Alternative form of myrthen