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Origin and history of diversion

diversion(n.)

early 15c., diversioun, "process of diverting," from Medieval Latin diversionem (nominative diversio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin divertere (see divert).

Meaning "act of turning aside from a course of action" is from c. 1600; that of "act of diverting (something) from its due or ordinary course" is from 1620s. Military meaning "act of drawing the attention and force of the enemy from the point where the principal attack is to be made" is from 1640s.

Sense of "amusement, entertainment" is attested by 1640s, on the notion of "that which diverts the mind." Hence, divertimento (1823), from the Italian form; originally "a musical composition designed primarily for entertainment."

also from early 15c.

Entries linking to diversion

divert(v.)

early 15c., diverten, "change the direction or course of; change the aim or destination of, turn aside or away" (transitive), from Old French divertir (14c.) and directly from Latin divertere "to turn in different directions," blended with devertere "turn aside," from vertere "to turn" (from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend") with, in the first word, an assimilated form of dis- "aside," and in the second with de- "from."

Sense of "draw off (someone) from a particular intention or state of mind" is from c. 1600, hence the meaning "amuse, entertain" (1660s). Related: Diverted; diverting.

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    deviation
    late 14c., "a going astray, a turning aside from the (right) way or course, a going wrong, error," from Late Latin deviatus, past participle of deviare "turn aside, turn out of the way," from Latin phrase de via, from de "off, away" (see de-) + via "way" (see via). From 1630s as
    deflection
    also (and with more etymological propriety) deflexion, "act of turning or state of being turned aside," c. 1600, from Latin deflexionem, noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin deflectere "to bend (something) aside or downward," from de "away" (see de-) + flectere "to b
    recreation
    late 14c., recreacioun, "refreshment or curing of a person, refreshment by eating," from Old French recreacion (13c.), from Latin recreationem (nominative recreatio) "recovery from illness," noun of action from past participle stem of recreare "to refresh, restore, make anew, rev
    pastime
    "amusement, diversion, that which serves to make the time pass agreeably," late 15c., passe tyme "recreation, diversion,...Diversion is a stronger word than recreation, representing that which turns one aside from ordinary serious work or thought...
    amusement
    1640s, "diversion of attention," especially in military actions, from French amusement, noun of action from amuser (see amuse...pleasantly diverts the attention" (from duty, work, etc.) is from 1670s, originally depreciative; the meaning "pleasurable diversion...
    distraction
    Meaning "a thing or fact that causes mental diversion or bewilderment" is from 1610s....
    sporting
    c. 1600, "playful, engaging in diversion," present-participle adjective from sport (v.)....
    frolic
    "make merry, have fun, romp playfully," 1580s, from frolic (adj.) "joyous, merry, full of mirth" (1530s), from Middle Dutch vrolyc "happy," a compound of vro- "merry, glad" + lyc "like" (see like (adj.)). The first part of the compound is cognate with Old Norse frar "swift," Midd
    fun
    "diversion, amusement, mirthful sport," 1727, earlier "a cheat, trick" (c. 1700), from verb fun (1680s) "to cheat, hoax," which is of uncertain origin, probably a variant of Middle English fonnen "befool" (c. 1400; see fond). Scantly recorded in 18c. and stigmatized by Johnson as
    caper
    "to leap, skip, prance," 1580s, apparently short for obsolete capriole "to leap, skip," which is probably from Italian capriolare "jump in the air" (see cab). Related: Capered; capering....type of prickly Mediterranean bush, also in reference to the plant's edible buds, late 14c.

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