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deviate

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To deviate is to depart from a planned or accepted course, from expectations or from accepted behavior.

(verb)

When you have a map all drawn out and you go another way, this is an example of a situation where you deviate from the planned route.
When you behave improperly and defy conventional standards, this is an example of a situation where your behavior deviates from the norm.

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See deviate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb deviated, deviating

to turn aside (from a course, direction, standard, doctrine, etc.); diverge; digress

Origin: < LL deviatus, pp. of deviare, to turn aside < de-, from + via, road: see via

transitive verb

to cause to deviate

adjective

deviant

noun

a deviant; esp., one whose sexual behavior is deviant

Related Forms:

deviator noun

See deviate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb de·vi·at·ed, de·vi·at·ing, de·vi·ates

verb, intransitive

To turn aside from a course or way.
To depart, as from a norm, purpose, or subject; stray. See Synonyms at swerve.

verb, transitive

To cause to turn aside or differ.

noun (-ĭt)

A deviant.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin dēviāre, dēviāt-

Origin: : Latin dē-, de-

Origin: + Latin via, road; see wegh- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

deˈvi·aˌtor noun

deˈvi·a·toˌry (-ə-tôrˌē, -tōrˌē) adjective

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