AVERT
avert, turn away
(verb) turn away or aside; “They averted their eyes when the King entered”
debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off
(verb) prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; “Let’s avoid a confrontation”; “head off a confrontation”; “avert a strike”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
avert (third-person singular simple present averts, present participle averting, simple past and past participle averted)
(transitive) To turn aside or away.
(transitive) To ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.
(intransitive, archaic) To turn away.
(transitive, archaic) To turn away.
Synonyms
• (to prevent): forestall
• See also hinder
Anagrams
• Trave, tarve, trave
Source: Wiktionary
A*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averted; p. pr. & vb. n. Averting.]
Etym: [L. avertere; a, ab + vertere to turn: cf. OF. avertir. See
Verse, n.]
Definition: To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object;
to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can
the danger be averted "To avert his ire." Milton.
When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and
contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church.
Bacon.
Till ardent prayer averts the public woe. Prior.
A*vert", v. i.
Definition: To turn away. [Archaic]
Cold and averting from our neighbor's good. Thomson.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition