divaricate

(dī vari kāt′, di-)

intransitive verb, transitive verb divaricated, divaricating

to spread widely apart; separate into diverging parts or branches; fork; branch

Origin: < L divaricatus, pp. of divaricare, to spread apart < dis-, apart + varicare, to straddle: see prevaricate

adjective

spreading or branching far apart; widely diverging

See divaricate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb di·var·i·cat·ed, di·var·i·cat·ing, di·var·i·cates
To diverge at a wide angle; spread apart.
adjective (dī-vărˈə-kĭt, -kātˌ, dĭ-)
  1. Biology Branching or spreading widely from a point or axis, as branches or on an insect's wings; diverging.
  2. Relating to a separation of two bones normally adjacent or attached but not located in a joint; distatic.

Origin:

Origin: Latin dīvāricāre, dīvāricāt-

Origin: : dī, dis-, dis-

Origin: + vāricāre, to straddle (from vārus, bent)

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Related Forms:

  • di·varˈi·cateˌly adverb
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