diverse
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /daɪˈvɜːs/
ipa: /ˈdaɪ.vɜːs/
ipa: /daɪˈvɝs/
ipa: /ˈdaɪ.vɝs/
ipa: /dɪˈvɝs/
ipa: /ˈdəˈvɝs/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)s
Forms: form: more diverse
form: most diverse
form: diuers
form: divers
Etymology: PIE word
 *dwóh₁
The adjective is derived from Middle English divers, diverse (“different, divergent”), from Anglo-Norman divers, Anglo-Norman divers, and Old French divers (“different; of various kinds”) (modern French divers), and directly from their etymon Latin dīversus (“different, diverse”), an adjective use of the perfect passive participle of dīvertō (“to divert, turn away”), from dī- (variant of dis- (prefix meaning ‘apart, in two’)) + vertō (“to turn”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to rotate; to turn”)). Doublet of divert.
The adverb is derived from Middle English diverse (“differently; at various times”), from divers, diverse (adjective) (see above).
Senses: synonyms: word: divers
word: manifold
word: catholic
word: dishomogeneous
word: diverse
word: diversified
word: eclectic
word: heterogeneous
word: liberal
word: manifold
word: miscellaneous
word: mixed
word: motley
word: multifarious
word: multifold
word: sundry
word: variable
word: varied
word: various
antonyms: word: heterogeneous
glosses: Consisting of different elements; various.
examples: text: [T]he diverse mone abowt, / Now bryght, now browne, now bent, now full, and now her lyght is owt.
ref: 1537–1542 (date written), Thomas Wyatt, “[Poems Written after 1536] Iopas’ Song”, in A[gnes] K[ate] Foxwell, editor, The Poems of Sir Thomas Wiat […], volume I, London: Hodder and Stoughton [for the] University of London Press, published 1913, →OCLC, stanza 5, page 195, lines 62–63:
text: Eloquence is a great and diverse thing.
ref: 1641, Ben Jonson, Discoveries:
glosses: Capable of or having various forms in different situations or at different times; multiform.
examples: text: The stage reflected the increasingly diverse Democratic party in which women and people of color are ascendant. Three women – two more than have ever shared a stage during a presidential primary debate and one of whom is Hindu – a Latino former congressman and a black senator participated.
ref: 2019 June 27, Lauren Gambino, “Democratic 2020 candidates clash on healthcare, immigration and economy in first debate”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 Apr 2023:
glosses: Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: of a community, organization, etc.: composed of people with a variety of different demographic characteristics such as ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status; especially, having a sizeable representation of people who are minorities in the community, organization, etc.
examples: text: And they gaue them drinke in veſſels of gold, (the veſſels being diuers one from another) and royall wine in abundance, according to the ſtate of the king.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Esther 1:7, signature Yy2, recto:
text: [T]h' old Chäos (vvombe of th' Universe) / VVas never made of Members more diverſe.
ref: 1614, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “Bethulia’s Rescue. The Wonder of Widowes: Honour of Wives: Mirrour of Maids. The Third Book.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], London: […] Robert Young, published 1633, →OCLC, page 490, column 1:
text: But it muſt be obſerved concerning moral Inability, in each Kind of it, that the VVord Inability is uſed in a Senſe very diverſe from its original Import. […] The VVord ſignifies only a natural Inability, in the proper Uſe of it; […] It can't be truly ſaid, according to the ordinary Uſe of Language, that a malicious Man, let him be never ſo malicious, can't hold his Hand from ſtriking, […]
ref: 1754, Jonathan Edwards, “Section IV. Of the Distinction of Natural and Moral Necessity, and Inability”, in A Careful and Strict Enquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions of that Freedom of Will, which is Supposed to be Essential to Moral Agency, Vertue and Vice, Reward and Punishment, Praise and Blame, London: […] Thomas Field, […], published 1762, →OCLC, page 37:
text: ‘Our roads are diverse: farewell, love!’ said she. / ‘’Tis duty I abide by: homely sward / And not the rock-rough picturesque for me![’]
ref: 1876, Robert Browning, “Bifurcation”, in Pacchiarotto and How He Worked in Distemper: With Other Poems, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 93:
text: Intelligence contemplates all it sees— / Albeit but a point in the infinite / Universe—with but two rays of light, / Which illustrate diversest destinies; […]
ref: 1881, Thomas Caulfield Irwin, Sonnets on the Poetry and Problems of Life, Dublin: M[ichael] H[enry] Gill & Son; London: Simpkin, Marshall 7 Co., →OCLC, page 63:
text: This is what collectivism forgot — the freedom to be diverse, and the conception of each diverse individual being inherently of equal value and having open-ended potential for contribution.
ref: 1998, Ken Shelton, Integrity at Work, Provo, Ut.: Executive Excellence Pub., →ISBN, page 42:
text: In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.
ref: 2013 May–June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, New Haven, Conn.: Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Apr 2016:
synonyms: word: different
word: differing
word: dissimilar
word: diverse
word: other
word: unalike
word: unlike
glosses: Not the same; different, dissimilar, distinct.
examples: text: The Board's [i.e., Board of Governors'] goal is to commit to doubling the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020.
ref: 2016 January 22, “Academy Takes Historic Action to Increase Diversity”, in Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, archived from the original on 23 Jan 2016:
text: Here to comment is diverse Congresswoman from Ohio—please welcome representative Marcia Fudge.
ref: 2018 November 17, “Voter Fraud [cold open]”, in Saturday Night Live, season 44, episode 6:
text: [Mike] Richards came under fierce criticism since he was formally hired to emcee the legendary quiz show, with some longtime fans saying they believed the producers should have selected a more diverse candidate for the job, such as the actor and presenter LeVar Burton.
ref: 2021 August 23, “Mike Richards out as Executive Producer of ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’”, in NBC News, archived from the original on 05 Dec 2024:
glosses: Of a person: belonging to a minority group.
examples: text: This kyng Edward the .ii. father to the noble kyng Edward the .iii. had .ii. bretherñ⸝ the one called Marſhall⸝ who was ryght wyld ⁊ diuers of condicions⸝ the other called ſir Aymon erle of Cane right wyse⸝ amiable⸝ gẽtle [gentle] and wellbeloued with al people.
ref: 1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “Here Myn Auctour Maketh Mencion of the Parentꝭ [Parentis] of this Good Kyng Edward the .iii.”, in Here Begynneth the First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart: Of the Cronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne⸝ Portyngale⸝ Scotlande⸝ Bretayne⸝ Flañders: And Other Places Adioynynge. […], 1st volume, London: […] Richarde Pynson⸝ […], →OCLC; reprinted as The First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart of the Chronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne (The English Experience […]; no. 257), Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 1970, →ISBN, folio ii, recto, column 1:
text: [Y]ou that beſt ſhould teach vs, / Haue miſdemean'd your ſelfe, and not a little: / Tovvard the King firſt, then his Lavves, in filling / The vvhole Realme, by your teaching & your Chaplaines / (for ſo vve are inform'd) vvith nevv opinions, / Diuers and dangerous; vvhich are Hereſies; / And not reform'd, may proue pernicious.
ref: 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 220, column 1:
glosses: Differing from what is good or right, or beneficial; bad, evil; harmful.
glosses: Having different colours; mottled, variegated.
examples: text: So many pathes, ſo many turnings ſeene, / That vvhich of them to take, in diuerſe doubt they been.
ref: 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 10, page 5:
glosses: Causing one to be indecisive between different viewpoints.
Derived terms: word: antidiverse
word: biodiverse
word: divers
word: diversative
word: diversely
word: diverseness
word: diversitude
word: gender diverse
word: geodiverse
word: hyperdiverse
word: megadiverse
word: microdiverse
word: multidiverse
word: neurodiverse
word: nondiverse
word: overdiverse
word: phytodiverse
word: polydiverse
word: pyrodiverse
word: regiodiverse
word: superdiverse
word: ultradiverse
word: undiverse
Related terms: divert
diversity