See Also: divaricate(medicine)
divaricate(1)(dictionary)
divaricate(2)(dictionary)

divaricate(2) (iou)



divaricate verb. E17.
[Latin divaricat- pa. ppl stem of divaricare, formed as DI-1 + varicare stretch (the legs) apart, from varicus straddling: see -ATE3.]
verb intrans. Stretch or spread apart; branch off, diverge; ramify. E17.
G. P. R. James Where these two [roads] divaricated, the horseman stopped.
b. Botany & Zoology. Diverge widely from a stem or main body. Chiefly as divaricated, divaricating ppl adjectives. M17.
verb trans. Stretch or open wide apart. L17.
Marvell I took my compasses, and divaricating them..I drew the circular line.
verb trans. Cause to spread or branch out in different directions. Now rare or obsolete. L17.
divaricatingly adverb in a divaricating manner L19.
divaricator noun something which divaricates; esp. (Surgery) a hinged instrument for holding portions of tissue apart; (Zoology, more fully
divaricator muscle) a muscle that separates parts, e.g. opens a brachiopod shell: L19.