King James Bible Dictionary

DIVERS, adjective S as z. [Latin , to turn.]

1. Different; various.

Thou shalt not sow thy fields with divers seeds. Deuteronomy 21:1.

Nor let thy cattle gender with divers kinds. Leviticus 19:1.

[This is now generally written diverse.]

2. Several; sundry; more than one, but not a great number. We have divers examples of this kind. [This word is not obsolete even in common discourse, and is much used in law proceedings.]

DIVERS-COLORED, adjective Having various colors.

DIVERSE, adjective [Latin]

1. Different; differing.

Four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. Daniel 7:3.

2. Different from itself; various; multiform.

Eloquence is a diverse thing.

3. In different directions.

And with tendrils creep diverse

DIVERSE, verb intransitive divers. To turn aside. [Not used.]

DIVERSIFICATION, noun [See Diversify.]

1. The act of changing forms or qualities, or of making various.

2. Variation; variegation.

3. Variety of forms.

4. Change; alteration.

DIVERSIFORM, adjective Of a different form; of various forms.

DIVERSIFY, verb transitive [Latin]

1. To make different or various in form or qualities; to give variety to; to variegate; as, to diversify the colors of a robe; to diversify a landscape with mountains, plains, trees and lakes.

2. To give diversity to; to distinguish by different things; as a council diversified by different characters.

3. In oratory, to vary a subject, by enlarging on what has been briefly stated, by brief recapitulation, by adding new ideas, by transposing words or periods, etc.

DIVERSIFYING, participle present tense Making various in form or qualities; giving variety to; variegating.

DIVERSIIFIED, participle passive

1. Made various in form or qualities; variegated; altered.

2. adjective Distinguished by various forms, or by a variety of objects; as diversified scenery; a diversified landscape.

DIVERSION, noun [Latin , to divert.]

1. The act of turning aside from any course; as the diversion of a stream from its usual channel; the diversion of a purpose to another object; the diversion of the mind from business or study.

2. That which diverts; that which turns or draws the mind from care, business or study, and thus relaxes and amuses; sport; play; pastime; whatever unbends the mind; as the diversion of youth. Works of wit and humor furnish an agreeable diversion to the studious.

3. In war, the act of drawing the attention and force of an enemy from the point where the principal attack is to be made, as by an attack or alarm on one wing of an army, when the other wing or center is intended for the principal attack. The enemy, if deceived, is thus induced to withdraw a part of his force from the part where his foe intends to make the main impression.

DIVERSITY, noun [Latin]

1. Difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness. There may be diversity without contrariety. There is a great diversity in human constitutions.

2. Variety; as a diversity of ceremonies in churches.

3. Distinct being, as opposed to identity.

4. Variegation.

Blushing in bright diversities of day.

DIVERSLY, adverb [from diverse.]

1. In different ways; differently; variously; as a passage of scripture diversly interpreted or understood.

2. In different directions; to different points.

On lifes vast ocean diversly we sail.