avert

The definition of avert is to turn away or to keep something from happening.

(verb)

See avert in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to turn away: to avert one's glance from an ugly sight
to keep from happening; ward off; prevent: he apologized in order to avert trouble

Origin: L avertere, to turn away < a- (ab-), from + vertere, to turn: see verse

See avert in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb a·vert·ed, a·vert·ing, a·verts

To turn away: avert one's eyes.
To ward off (something about to happen); prevent: averted an accident by turning sharply. See Synonyms at prevent.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English averten

Origin: , from Old French avertir

Origin: , from Latin āvertere

Origin: : ā-, ab-, away from; see ab-¹

Origin: + vertere, to turn; see wer-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

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