Verb

(en verb)

To turn aside or away.

To avert the eyes from an object.

To ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.

How can the danger be averted ?

* Milton

To avert his ire.

* Prior

Till ardent prayer averts the public woe.

(archaic) To turn away.

* Thomson

Cold and averting from our neighbour's good.

(archaic) To turn away.

* Francis Bacon

When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church.

Verb

(en verb)

To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03

, author=William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter , title=The British Longitude Act Reconsidered , volume=100, issue=2, page=87 , magazine= citation , passage=But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.}}