di|vorce

di|vorce «duh VRS, -VOHRS», noun, verb, -vorced, -vorc|ing.

–n.

1. the legal ending of a marriage.

2. Figurative. a separation: »

In this country there is a complete divorce of government and religion.

–v.t.

1. to end legally a marriage between: »

The judge divorced Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

2. to separate from by means of a divorce: »

She divorced her husband.

3. Figurative. to separate: »

In sports, exercise and play are not divorced.

–v.i.

to separate by means of a divorce: »

There are, of course, those who divorce, but I suspect that the high rate of divorce in America comes from the tremendous expectation placed on marriage (Time).

╂[< Old French divorce, learned borrowing from Latin dīvōrtium < dīvertere; see etym. under divert (Cf. ↑divert)]