DEVIATION, noun 1. A wandering or turning aside from the right way, course or line. 2. Variation from a common or established rule, or from analogy. 3. A wandering from the path of duty; want of conformity to the rules prescribed by God; error; sin; obliquity of conduct. 4. In commerce, the voluntary departure of a ship, without necessity, from the regular and usual course of the specific voyage insured. This discharges the underwriters from their responsibility.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI