divagation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

divagation
    n 1: a message that departs from the main subject [syn:
         {digression}, {aside}, {excursus}, {divagation},
         {parenthesis}]
    2: a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern); "a
       diversion from the main highway"; "a digression into
       irrelevant details"; "a deflection from his goal" [syn:
       {diversion}, {deviation}, {digression}, {deflection},
       {deflexion}, {divagation}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Divagation \Di`va*ga"tion\, n. [L. divagari to wander about; di-
   = dis- + vagari to stroll about: cf. F. divagation. See
   {Vagary}.]
   A wandering about or going astray; digression.
   [1913 Webster]

         Let us be set down at Queen's Crawley without further
         divagation.                              --Thackeray.
   [1913 Webster]

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