▪ I. diverse, a.
(dɪ-, daɪˈvɜːs, ˈdaɪvəs)
[In origin identical with divers; but in later use prob. more immediately associated with L. dīversus (cf. adverse, inverse, obverse, perverse, reverse). Hence, no longer (since c 1700) used in the merely vague numerical sense of divers, but always distinctly associated with diversity.]
1. Different in character or quality; not of the same kind; not alike in nature or qualities. (Formerly also written divers: see divers 1.)
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 657 Suþþe þoru diuerse tonge me clupeþ it seuerne. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 25 Take hede of eyȝte dyuerse manere of accountynge of ȝeres. c 1430 Lydg. Hors, Shepe & G. (Roxb.) 4 The thirde was white..The fourth diuerce of colours. 1592 West 1st Pt. Symbol. §50 H, Wordes of diuerse or doubtfull significations. 1647–8 Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 30 From the diverse sense, that men had of this proceeding. 1822 Coleridge Lett. Convers., etc. II. 83 The subjects of the Lectures are indeed very different, but not, in the strict sense of the term diverse: they are various rather than miscellaneous. 1841–71 T. R. Jones Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4) 798 With habits so diverse, we may well expect corresponding diversity in their forms. 1865 R. W. Dale Jew. Temp. ix. (1877) 95 These diverse but not antagonistic spiritual forces. |
b. Const. from († to).
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xii. 54 Þaire clething also es diuerse fra oþer men. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. (Arb.) 157 A certaine outlandish kinde of talke, strange to them of Athens, and diuerse from their writing. 1570 Act 13 Eliz. c. 29 Any Name contrary or dyverse to the name of the now Chauncellor. 1611 Bible Esther iii. 8 Their lawes are diuerse from all people. 1754 Edwards Freed. Will i. iv. 25 Against, or diverse from present Acts of the Will. 1836 J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. i. (1852) 11 A procedure..very diverse from that which he has universally prescribed. |
2. Differing from itself under different circumstances at different times, or in different parts; multiform, varied, diversified.
| a 1541 Wyatt Poet. Wks. (1861) 153 And beareth with his sway the diverse Moon about. 1656 Ridgley Pract. Physick 11 An eschar..of a diverse colour like a rainbow. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 19 Enlarging on the diverse and multiform nature of pleasure. |
† 3. Different from, or opposed to what is right, good, or profitable: perverse, adverse. Obs.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 49 He found the see diverse With many a windy storm reverse. Ibid. III. 295 Fortune..as I shall reherce..was to this lord diverse. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 104 But kinge herode was diuerse, couettous, and right malicious. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour F vj b, An euylle cruell and dyuerse quene. |
† 4. Turning or impelling in different directions; diverting, distracting. (In Spenser.) Obs. rare.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. i. 10 In diverse doubt they been. Ibid. ii. ii. 3 And into diverse doubt his wavering wonder clove. |
† 5. = divers 3, with its varieties a. and b. Obs. (rare in this spelling after 1700).
| a. 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 378 Þe kyng hem sende her & þer..To dyuerse men, to vynde hem mete. c 1340 Cursor M. 1034 (Trin.) Foure stremes passynge into dyuerse remes. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 209 How aungels and men desyred her byrthe for diuerse causes. a 1592 H. Smith Serm. (1637) 777 They thought that there were diverse Gods, as there were diverse Nations, diverse trades, diverse languages, diverse and sundry kinds of all things. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 68/1 The double Daisies are of diverse Sorts. |
| b. 1386 Rolls of Parlt. III. 225/1 The forsaid Nichol..ayein the pees, made dyverse enarmynges bi day and eke bi nyght. 1428 Surtees Misc. (1890) 10 Wele knawen to diverses gude men of yis cite. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI (an. 29) 162 The toune of Acques, in the whiche be diverse hote bathes. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. Pref. (Arb.) 18 Diuerse Scholers of Eaton be runne awaie from the Schole. 1601 Chester Loves Martyr title-p., Collected out of diuerse Authenticall Records. 1728 Morgan Algiers I. Pref. 6 Towards the close of this History and in diverse other parts of it. |
† c. absol. = divers 3 c. Obs.
| c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 3638 He..had made diuerse hale and fere. 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 172 Many perticuler Regions as Englande..Denmarke, Greece, and diverse, unto the number..of 34. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 1309 With the losse of diverse of his company. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. vi. §i. 22 [It] hath been excellently handled by diverse. 1706 H. Maule Hist. Picts in Misc. Scot. I. 37 Diverse of our historians attribute this victory to the valour of the King. |
† 6. as adv. = diversely. Obs.
| 1708 J. Philips Cyder i, The gourd And thirsty cucumber..with tendrils creep Diverse. 1729 Pope Dunc. (ed. 2) ii. 114 His papers light, fly diverse, tost in air. |
7. Comb. adverbial or parasynthetic, as diverse-coloured, diverse-natured, diverse-shaped, etc.
| 1551 Bible Judg. v. 30 (R.) Dyuerse coloured browdered work. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. ii. 208 Smiling Cupids, With diuers coulour'd Fannes. 1697 J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 11 Diverse-natured parts. 1875 W. McIlwraith Guide Wigtownshire 100 Diverse-shaped parterres. |
▪ II. † diˈverse, v. Obs.
Also 4–6 dyverse (6 pa. tense diverst).
[a. OF. diverse-r to change, vary, diversify: -med.L. dīversā-re to turn, drive about, freq. of dīvertĕre to divert, or f. dī-, dis- 1 + versāre to turn about.]
1. trans. To render diverse or different; to vary, change, diversify. (Also refl. = intr.)
| 1340 Ayenb. 124 Þise uour uirtues..mochel ham diuerseþ ine hire workes. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 1703 (1752) Þe world with feyth which þat is stable Dyverseth so his stoundes concordynge. 1382 Wyclif Acts xv. 9. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 331 For þis cause þou muste diuerse þi medicyns. 1530 Palsgr. 523/1, I dyverse, I make difference, je diversifie. a 1634 Randolph Amyntas iv. 9 The sentence now is past..It cannot be divers'd. |
2. intr. To be or grow diverse, different, or varied; to vary, change, become diversified; to differ (from).
| c 1340 Cursor M. 2262 (Trin.) Her tonges dyuersed fro þat day. 1382 Wyclif 1 Cor. xv. 41 A sterre diuersith from a sterre in clerenesse. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 233. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. i. (1885) 109 Ther bith ij kyndes off kyngdomes..thai diuersen in that the first kynge mey [etc.]..The secounde kynge may not rule his peple by other lawes than such as thai assenten unto. |
3. intr. To turn aside, diverge, be diverted. rare.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. iii. 62 The Redcrosse Knight diverst: but forth rode Britomart. |
Hence diˈversed ppl. a., diversified, different.
| 1393 Gower Conf. Prol. I. 3 Men se the world..In sondry wyse so diversed. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 784 Dyversed wittes dyversely devyse. |