E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Divert.
To turn aside. Business is the regular walk or current of our life, but pleasure is a diversion or turning aside for a time from the straight line. What we call diversion is called in French distraction, drawing aside. (Latin, di-verto, to turn aside; dis-traho, to draw aside.)
