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Any medial estimate or general statement derived from a comparison of diverse specific cases; a medium or usual size, quantity, quality, rate, etc. "The average of sensations." Paley.

A calling away; a diversion. [Obs. or Archaic] Impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin. South.

a moth, esp. of the genus Euprepia. -- Bear garden. (a) A place where bears are kept for diversion or fighting. (b) Any place where riotous conduct is common or permitted. M. Arnold. -- Bear leader, one who leads about a performing bear for money; hence, a facetious term for one who takes charge of a young man on his…

a blancher, which kept the dearest deer from her. Sir P. Sidney. And so even now hath he divers blanchers belonging to the market, to let and stop the light of the gospel. Latimer.

stones and other ponderous missiles. It was the earliest kind of cannon. They planted in divers places twelve great bombards, wherewith they threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city, might break down the houses. Knolles.

A group of birds, including auks, divers, and penguins.

To variegate or diversify with different qualities, color, scenes, or events; esp., to subject to frequent alternations of prosterity and adversity. Our minds are, as it were, checkered with truth and falsehood. Addison.

Diversified or variegated in a marked manner, as in appearance, character, circumstances, etc. This checkered narrative. Macaulay.

A diversity of colors in yarn, recurring at regular intervals. Knight.

erse together; to discourse; to confer. [Obs.] Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of. Grafton.

Possessing peculiarities that are characteristic of several diverse groups.

as by the cohesion or coalescence of separate particles. There are in our inferior world divers bodies that are concreted out of others. Sir M. Hale.

To apply to any use by a diversion from the proper or intended use; to appropriate dishonestly or illegally. When a bystander took a coin to get it changed, and converted it, [it was] held no larceny. Cooley.

To checker; to diversify, as in heraldic counterchanging. See Counterchaged, a., 2. With-elms, that counterchange the floor Of this flat lawn with dusk and bright. Tennyson.

dic and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, as of the leg. The cramp, divers nights, gripeth him in his legs. Sir T. More. Cramp bone, the patella of a sheep; -- formerly used as a charm for the cramp. Halliwell. "He could turn cramp bones into chess men." Dickens. -- Cramp ring, a ring formerly su…

Worthy of belief. [Obs.] Divers creditable witnesses deposed. Ludlow.

Irregularity of form; diversity of form; want of uniformity. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

f transmitted and reflected light, and by contrivances such as screens and shutters, much diversity of scenic effect is produced.

The state of disagreeing; a being at variance; dissimilitude; diversity.

Variegated; of divers colors. [R.] That ever wore discolored arms. Chapman.