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Digress vs Avert - What's the difference?

digress | avert |

In lang=en terms the difference between digress and avert

is that digress is to turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend while avert is to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.

As verbs the difference between digress and avert

is that digress is to step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking while avert is to turn aside or away.

digress

English

Verb

(es)
  • To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking.
  • * Holland
    • Moreover she beginneth to digress in latitude.
  • * John Locke
    • In the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a particular definition as often as a man varies the signification of any term.
  • * {{quote-song
    • , year = 1959 , title = In Old Mexico , composer = (Tom Lehrer) , passage = For I hadn't had so much fun since the day / my brother's dog Rover / got run over. / (Rover was killed by a Pontiac. And it was done with such grace and artistry that the witnesses awarded the driver both ears and the tail – but I digress .) }}
  • To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thy abundant goodness shall excuse / This deadly blot on thy digressing son.

    Synonyms

    * (turn from the course of argument) sidetrack

    Related terms

    * digression * digressive * excursive

    avert

    English

    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.

    Derived terms

    * averter * avertress

    Synonyms

    * (to prevent) * See also

    References

    * " avert" at OneLook® Dictionary Search .

    Anagrams

    * ----