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de·vi·ate

(dēvē-āt′)

v. de·vi·at·ed, de·vi·at·ing, de·vi·ates

v.intr.

1. To turn aside from a course or way: hikers who deviated from the main path.

2. To depart, as from a norm, purpose, or subject; differ or stray. See Synonyms at swerve.

v.tr.

To cause to turn aside or differ.

n. (-ĭt)

A deviant.

[Late Latin dēviāre, dēviāt- : Latin dē-, de- + Latin via, road; see wegh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

devi·a′tor n.

devi·a·to′ry (-ə-tôr′ē) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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