See Also: distract(1)(dictionary)
distract(2)(dictionary)
distract(dictionary)

distract(2) (iou)



distract verb trans. . LME.
[Latin distract- pa. ppl stem of distrahere: see DISTRACT adjective For origin of arch. pa. pple see DISTRAUGHT adjective.]
Draw in different directions; draw away or apart; separate, divide, (lit. & fig.). LME-M17.
Hobbes Being distracted in opinions.
b. Disperse. E-M17.
Divide, break up, esp. so as to produce disorder or disintegration. Formerly also fig., undo, spoil. Long rare or obsolete. LME.
J. Fryer The Power was distracted among the Captains of the Conqueror.
Orig., turn away from a purpose, destination, or position. Now, divert (the attention, a person) from or from something, esp. an intention or preoccupation; stop (a person) from attending fully to something. LME.
Sir T. Browne The needle..being distracted, driveth that way where the..powerfuller part of the earth is placed. J. Hersey The motherless..children were inconsolable. Father Cieslik worked hard to distract them. A. Koestler He wanted to avoid..anything which might distract him from his task. G. Greene Next day a number of things distracted me from the fate of Jones. R. Hayman He was easily distracted by noises through the wall.
Throw into a state of mind in which one does not know how to act; greatly perplex, bewilder; trouble, agitate. Usu. in pass. LME.
Southey Have fanatic dreams distraught his sense?
Derange; make mad. Usu. in pass. LME-L18.
Confuse by divergent aims or interests; cause dissension or disorder in; divide the inclination etc. between different objects. L16.
Ld Macaulay He was distracted between the fear of losing his ears and the fear of injuring his patron.
distracta'bility noun = distractibility M20.
distractful adjective full of or fraught with distraction M17-M18.
distractible adjective able to be distracted M18.
distracti'bility noun the condition of being distractible; inability to maintain prolonged attention: E20.
distractingly adverb in a manner that distracts; bewilderingly, maddeningly: M19.
distractive adjective of distracting quality or tendency E17.
distractively adverb M19.
distractor noun (US) an incorrect option in a multiple-choice question M20.