[syn: aberrant, deviant, deviate]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Deviate \De"vi*ate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deviated; p. pr. &
vb. n. Deviating.] [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to
go, travel, via way. See Viaduct.]
To go out of the way; to turn aside from a course or a
method; to stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to
diverge; to vary.
[1913 Webster]
Thus Pegasus, a nearer way to take,
May boldly deviate from the common track. --Pope.
Syn: To swerve; stray; wander; digress; depart; deflect; err.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Deviate \De"vi*ate\, v. t.
To cause to deviate. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
To deviate a needle. --J. D.
Forbes.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
deviate \de"vi*ate\ (d[=e]"v[-e]*[i^]t), a.
having behavior differing from that which is normal or
expected, especially in an undesirable or socially
disapproved manner; as, deviate behavior.
Syn: deviant. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
deviate \de"vi*ate\ (d[=e]"v[-e]*[i^]t), n.
a person having behavior differing from that which is normal
or socially acceptable; -- used especially to characterize
persons whose sexual behavior is considered morally
unacceptable.
Syn: deviant. [PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
deviate
adj 1: markedly different from an accepted norm; "aberrant
behavior"; "deviant ideas" [syn: aberrant, deviant,
deviate]
n 1: a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable
especially in sexual behavior [syn: pervert, deviant,
deviate, degenerate]
v 1: turn aside; turn away from [syn: deviate, divert]
2: be at variance with; be out of line with [syn: deviate,
vary, diverge, depart] [ant: conform]
3: cause to turn away from a previous or expected course; "The
river was deviated to prevent flooding"