AVERT', verb transitive [Latin averto, a, from, and verto, to turn, anciently, vorto; hence vertex, vortex, averto; probably allied to Latin vario; Eng. veer.] 1. To turn from; to turn off or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object. 2. To keep off, divert or prevent; as, to avert an approaching calamity. 3. To cause to dislike. But this sense seems to be improper, except when heart or some equivalent word is used; as, to avert the heart or affections, which may signify to alienate the affections. AVERT', verb intransitive To turn away.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI