Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
avert [uh-vurt] ExamplesWord Origin verb (used with object)
- to turn away or aside: to avert one’s eyes.
- to ward off; prevent: to avert evil; to avert an accident.
Origin of avert 1400–50; late Middle English Middle French avertir ≪ Latin āvertere, equivalent to ā- a-4 + vertere to turnRelated formsa·vert·ed·ly, adverba·vert·er, nouna·vert·i·ble, a·vert·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·vert·ed, adjective Examples from the Web for unaverted Historical Examples of unaverted
The Earl again trotted gently on, raising his hat most deferentially as he came along side of her, as usual, unaverted head.
R. S. Surtees
For all that she was of exceptional intellectual enterprise, she had never yet considered these things with unaverted eyes.
H. G. Wells
The sun went down: Theresa gazed with unaverted looks upon the splendor, and both her fine eyes filled with tears.
Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship and Travels, Vol. I (of 2)
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
British Dictionary definitions for unaverted avert verb (tr)
- to turn away or asideto avert one’s gaze
- to ward off; prevent from occurringto avert danger
Derived Formsavertible or avertable, adjectiveWord Origin for avert C15: from Old French avertir, from Latin āvertere; see averse Word Origin and History for unaverted avert v.
c.1400, from Old French avertir (12c.), “turn, direct; avert; make aware,” from Vulgar Latin *advertire, from Latin avertere “to turn away, to drive away,” from ab- “from, away” (see ab-) + vertere “to turn” (see versus). Related: Averted; averting.