̈ɪdɪˈvɔ:s n. & v. --n. 1 a
the legal dissolution of a
marriage. b a legal
decree of
this. 2 a
severance or
separation (a divorce
between thought
and feeling). --v. 1 a tr. (usu. as divorced adj.) (often foll. by from) legally
dissolve the marriage of (a divorced
couple; he wants to
get divorced
from her). b intr.
separate by divorce (they divorced last year). c tr.
end one's marriage
with (divorced
him for neglect). 2 tr. (often foll. by from)
detach, separate (divorced from reality). 3 tr.
archaic dissolve (a union). øødivorcement n. [ME f. OF divorce (n.), divorcer (v.) f. LL divortiare f. L divortium f. divortere (as
DI-(2), vertere turn)]