DISTRACTION

distraction, misdirection

(noun) the act of distracting; drawing someone’s attention away from something; “conjurers are experts at misdirection”

beguilement, distraction

(noun) an entertainment that provokes pleased interest and distracts you from worries and vexations

distraction

(noun) mental turmoil; “he drives me to distraction”

distraction

(noun) an obstacle to attention

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

distraction (countable and uncountable, plural distractions)

Something that distracts.

The process of being distracted.

Perturbation; disorder; disturbance; confusion.

Mental disorder; a deranged state of mind; insanity.

(medicine, archaic) Traction so exerted as to separate surfaces normally opposed.

Anagrams

• adstriction

Source: Wiktionary

Dis*trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. distractio: cf. F. distraction.]

1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation. To create distractions among us. Bp. Burnet.

2. That which diverts attention; a diversion. "Domestic distractions." G. Eliot.

3. A diversity of direction; detachment. [Obs.] His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all species. Shak.

4. State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity. That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 1 Cor. vii. 3

5. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions. Never was known a night of such distraction. Dryden.

6. Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair. The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together, would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler.

7. Derangement of the mind; madness. Atterbury.

Syn.

– Perplexity; confusion; disturbance; disorder; dissension; tumult; derangement; madness; raving; franticness; furiousness.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition