deflect

deflect
    v 1: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's
         avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert
         a strike" [syn: {debar}, {forefend}, {forfend}, {obviate},
         {deflect}, {avert}, {head off}, {stave off}, {fend off},
         {avoid}, {ward off}]
    2: turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of
       interest [syn: {deflect}, {bend}, {turn away}]
    3: turn aside and away from an initial or intended course
    4: draw someone's attention away from something; "The thief
       distracted the bystanders"; "He deflected his competitors"
       [syn: {distract}, {deflect}]
    5: impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball); "block an
       attack" [syn: {parry}, {block}, {deflect}]
    

deflect \de*flect"\ (d[-e]*fl[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Deflected}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Deflecting}.] [L. deflectere;
   de- + flectere to bend or turn. See {Flexible}.]
   To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often
   deflected; to deflect a punch; to deflect criticism by
   acknowledging a mistake.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

         Sitting with their knees deflected under them. --Lord
                                                  (1630).
   [1913 Webster]
    

Deflect \De*flect"\, v. i.
   To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line,
   or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.
   [1913 Webster]

         At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not,
         but lieth in the true meridian.          --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
   [1913 Webster]

         To deflect from the line of truth and reason.
                                                  --Warburton.
   [1913 Webster]
    

110 Moby Thesaurus words for "deflect":
      angle, angle off, anticipate, arch, avert, bar, bear off, bend,
      bend back, bias, blunt, bow, change, chill, cool, crook, curl,
      curve, damp, dampen, debar, decurve, deter, deviate, diffract,
      diffuse, disaffect, discourage, dishearten, disincline,
      disinterest, disperse, distort, distract, divagate, diverge,
      divert, dogleg, dome, embow, estop, exclude, fend, fend off, flex,
      forbid, foreclose, forestall, hairpin, help, hold off, hook, hump,
      hunch, incurvate, incurve, indispose, inflect, keep from, keep off,
      loop, oblique, obviate, parry, pivot, preclude, prevent, prohibit,
      pull, put off, quench, recurve, reflect, reflex, refract, repel,
      retroflex, round, rule out, sag, save, scatter, sheer, shy,
      sidetrack, skew, slue, stave off, swag, sway, sweep, swerve,
      switch, turn, turn aside, turn away, turn from, turn off, twist,
      vault, veer, volte-face, ward off, warp, wean from, wheel, whip,
      whirl, wind, zigzag