div

n. [ L. divagari to wander about; di- = dis- + vagari to stroll about: cf. F. divagation. See Vagary. ] A wandering about or going astray; digression. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us be set down at Queen's Crawley without further divagation. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. di- + L. valens, valentis, p. pr. See Valence. ] (Chem.) Having two units of combining power; bivalent. Cf. Valence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Per. dīwān a book of many leaves, an account book, a collection of books, a senate, council: cf. Ar. daiwān, F. divan. ] 1. A book; esp., a collection of poems written by one author; as, the divan of Hafiz. [ Persia ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In Turkey and other Oriental countries: A council of state; a royal court. Also used by the poets for a grand deliberative council or assembly. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A chief officer of state. [ India ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A saloon or hall where a council is held, in Oriental countries, the state reception room in places, and in the houses of the richer citizens. Cushions on the floor or on benches are ranged round the room. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A cushioned seat, or a large, low sofa or couch; especially, one fixed to its place, and not movable. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A coffee and smoking saloon. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Divaricated; p. pr. & vb. n. Divaricating. ] [ L. divaricatus, p. p. of divaricare to stretch apart; di- = dis- + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, fr. varus stretched outwards. ] 1. To part into two branches; to become bifid; to fork. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To diverge; to be divaricate. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. divaricatus, p. p. ] 1. Diverging; spreading asunder; widely diverging. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Forking and diverging; widely diverging; as the branches of a tree, or as lines of sculpture, or color markings on animals, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To divide into two branches; to cause to branch apart. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With divarication. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. divarication. ] 1. A separation into two parts or branches; a forking; a divergence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An ambiguity of meaning; a disagreement of difference in opinion. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) A divergence of lines of color sculpture, or of fibers at different angles. [ 1913 Webster ]