deviate

  • 1deviate — [dē′vē āt΄; ] for adj. & n. [, dē vēit] vi. deviated, deviating [< LL deviatus, pp. of deviare, to turn aside < de , from + via, road: see VIA] to turn aside (from a course, direction, standard, doctrine, etc.); diverge; digress vt. to… …

    English World dictionary

  • 2Deviate — De vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Deviated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Deviating}.] [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to go, travel, via way. See {Viaduct}.] To go out of the way; to turn aside from a course or a method; to stray or go astray; to err; to… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3Deviate — De vi*ate, v. t. To cause to deviate. [R.] [1913 Webster] To deviate a needle. J. D. Forbes. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4deviate — de vi*ate (d[=e] v[ e]*[i^]t), a. having behavior differing from that which is normal or expected, especially in an undesirable or socially disapproved manner; as, deviate behavior. Syn: deviant. [PJC] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5deviate — de vi*ate (d[=e] v[ e]*[i^]t), n. a person having behavior differing from that which is normal or socially acceptable; used especially to characterize persons whose sexual behavior is considered morally unacceptable. Syn: deviant. [PJC] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6deviate — I verb aberrare, alter course, angle off, be at variance, be different, be distinguished from, be oblique, bear no resemblance, bear off, branch out, break bounds, break the pattern, change direction, clash, clash with, conflict with, contrast,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 7deviate — (v.) 1630s, from L.L. deviatus, pp. of deviare to turn out of the way (see DEVIANT (Cf. deviant)). Related: Deviated; deviating. The noun meaning sexual pervert is attested from 1912 …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 8deviate — digress, diverge, *swerve, veer, depart Analogous words: deflect, *turn, divert, avert, sheer: stray, *wander, rove …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 9deviate — [v] stray from normal path aberrate, angle off, avert, bear off, bend, bend the rules*, break pattern, circumlocate, contrast, deflect, depart, depart from, differ, digress, divagate, diverge, drift, edge off*, err, get around, go amiss, go… …

    New thesaurus

  • 10deviate — ► VERB ▪ diverge from an established course or from normal standards. ORIGIN Latin deviare turn out of the way , from via way …

    English terms dictionary