| 释义 |
diversion|dɪˈvɜːʃən, daɪ-|
[ad. med.L. dīversiō (vox Medicorum: Du Cange), n. of action f. L. dīvertĕre to divert. Cf. F. diversion, in medical use in 13–14th c. (Littré), in military and other uses in 16th c., perh. the immediate source of the English, but not in Cotgr. 1611.]
1. a. lit. The turning aside (of anything) from its due or ordinary course or direction; a turning aside of one's course; deviation, deflection.
1626Bacon Sylva §414 In Retention of the Sap for a time, and Diversion of it to the Sprouts. 1660Hickeringill Jamaica (1661) 65 This Diversion is somewhat out of our way to Jamaica. 1871Tyndall Fragm. Sc. (1879) II. i. 2 A diversion of the Rhone..would..have been of incalculable benefit. 1871L. Stephen Playgr. Eur. x. (1894) 245, I made a diversion towards the valley. 1872Yeats Growth Comm. 180 Fearing the diversion of trade. 1883Nature 8 Mar. 437 Due to its diversion into some other than the usual channel.
†b. Med. A turning away of the course of the humours by means of medicinal applications. Obs.
1656Ridgley Pract. Physick 17 To use diversion, evacuation, and strengthening. 1727–51Chambers Cycl., Diversion in Medicine, the turning of the course or flux of humours from one part to another, by proper applications.
c. An alternative route by-passing a road that is temporarily closed.
1955Times 29 Aug. 5/1 One of the hazards for the motorist is finding a way round the many places where the road is up with the aid of, sometimes in spite of, what has become almost a Viennese institution—the Umleitung or diversion. 1958‘A. Gilbert’ Death against Clock xii. 167 When you put up your road blocks, then I have to take the diversion.
2. transf. and fig.
a. The turning aside (of any person or thing) from a settled or particular course of action, an object, or the like.
1600E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 10 Turning all his resolutions upon Affrick..But this diversion whereunto they perswaded the King, was cause of great ruines. 1626Donne Serm. Ps. lxiv. 10 A diversion, a deviation, a deflection..from this rectitude, this uprightness. 1797Burke Regic. Peace iii. Wks. VIII. 343 If the war has been diverted from the great object..this diversion was made to encrease the naval resources and power of Great Britain.
†b. A turning aside from the business in hand, or from one's regular occupation; avocation. Obs.
1637Laud Wks. (1857) VI. 37 Considering my many diversions and the little time I could snatch from other employment. 1662Lightfoot Broughton's Wks. Pref. 2. 1675 Marvell Corr. Wks. II. 456 The Lords have agreed for..another conference..these and other diversions withhold them from proceeding in their Committee of their Test.
c. A turning aside or diverting of the attention.
1667Decay Chr. Piety ii. ⁋7 An artifice of diversion, a sprout of that first fig-tree which was to hide the nakedness of lapsed Adam. 1796Burke Regic. Peace i. Wks. VIII. 155 The..diversion..was the suggestion of a treaty proposed by the enemy. 1814Scott Wav. iv, Charging them to make good with their lives an hour's diversion, that the king might have that space for escape.
3. Mil. A manœuvre to draw off the enemy's attention from the operation on which they are engaged, by a movement or attack in an unexpected quarter.
1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. §88 The forces..which were raised to make a diversion in Scotland. 1659B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 45 The Prince..bethought himself..of sending his brother to Venlo, so to make a powerfull diversion. 1801Wellington in Gurw. Desp. I. 299 My determination is to make the most powerful diversion which may be practicable on the coasts of the Red Sea.
4. a. spec. The turning away of the thoughts, attention, etc., from fatiguing or sad occupations, with implication of pleasurable excitement; distraction, recreation, amusement, entertainment.
1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xliv. 174 My long indisposition..hath great need of some diversion. 1671Lady M. Bertie in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 22, I..am glad you had so good diversion in drawing valentine. 1706Estcourt Fair Examp. ii. ii, Will you allow her no Diversion? 1710Steele Tatler No. 89 ⁋4 Diversion, which is a kind of forgetting our selves, is but a mean Way of Entertainment. 1814Jane Austen Mansf. Park xvii, All were finding employment in consultations..or diversion in the playful conceits they suggested.
b. with a and pl. An amusement, entertainment, sport, pastime.
1648Evelyn Diary 5 Feb., Saw a Tragie-comedy acted in the Cockpit, after there had been none of these diversions for many years during the warr. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 254 If wild and uncouth places be a diversion to you, I promise your curiosity shall be fully gratified. 1843Lytton Last Bar. i. i, Open spaces for the popular games and diversions. 1875J. Curtis Hist. Eng. 154 Among the in-door diversions were draughts, chess, etc.
c. Comb. as diversion-monger.
1744Eliza Heywood Female Spect. (1748) I. 212 Our diversion-mongers .. every day contriving new entertainments.
†5. Diverse condition, diverseness. Obs. rare.
14..Wyntoun Chron. (ed. Laing) III. 166 (Wemyss MS.) For diversion [v.r. syndrynes] of thar changeing.
6. attrib. and Comb.: diversion-cut, a channel made to divert impure water past a reservoir; diversion weir, a weir erected to divert water from a river to the head of an irrigating canal.
a1877Knight Dict. Mech., Diversion-cut, a channel to divert past a reservoir a stream of impure or turbid water which would otherwise flow into the reservoir. A by-wash. 1893Ann. Rep. U.S. Geol. Surv. 1892–3 iii. 231 One of the latest..diversion weirs constructed in this country is that built at the head of the Turlock and Modesto canals. |