Word: diverge (verb)

Associations

"Diverge" means to go in different directions from a common point or to become different.

• In a road context: "The paths diverge in the forest." This means the paths split and go separate ways.
• In opinion: "Their views on the topic diverge." This means their opinions are different.
• In math: "The lines diverge." This means the lines move apart and do not meet.

A well-known synonym is "separate." The difference is that "diverge" often implies starting together and then moving apart, while "separate" can mean just being apart without the idea of starting together.

Substitution

Other words you can use instead of "diverge" are:

• split (focuses more on breaking into parts)
• differ (more about opinions or ideas)
• branch off (used for paths or ideas)

Using "split" instead of "diverge" often sounds more physical, while "differ" is more for ideas.

Deconstruction

The word "diverge" comes from Latin:

• prefix "di-" means "apart" or "in different directions"
• root "vergere" means "to bend" or "turn" So "diverge" literally means "to turn apart."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when two friends' opinions diverged?
• How might a river diverge into smaller streams?
• When learning something new, have your ideas ever diverged from what you first thought?