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The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation. To create distractions among us. Bp. Burnet.

esent; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind. "Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind." Addison. To conquer that abstraction which is called absence. Landor.

Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Obs.] [Written also comber.] A place of much distraction and cumber. Sir H. Wotton. Sage counsel in cumber. Sir W. Scott.

ting or disuniting; a state of separation; disunion. It will add infinitely dissociation, distraction, and confusion of these confederate republics. Burke.

A state of being distracted; distraction. Bp. Hall.

Violent distraction of mind; violent emotion; excessive grief of anxiety; insanity; madness. [Obs.] That unmatched form and feature of blown youth Blasted with ecstasy. Shak. Our words will but increase his ecstasy. Marlowe.

Any violent agitation of the mind approaching to distraction; violent and temporary derangement of the mental faculties; madness; rage. All else is towering frenzy and distraction. Addison. The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling. Shak.

Proceeding from, or indicating, madness; expressing distraction; prompted by infatuation, fury, or extreme rashness. "Mad demeanor." Milton. Mad wars destroy in one year the works of many years of peace. Franklin. The mad promise of Cleon was fulfilled. Jowett (Thucyd.).

he quality or state of being perplexed or puzzled; complication; intricacy; entanglement; distraction of mind through doubt or difficulty; embarrassment; bewilderment; doubt. By their own perplexities involved, They ravel more. Milton.

ure; to indicate the presence or influence; to smack; -- with of. This savors not much of distraction. Shak. I have rejected everything that savors of party. Addison.

ntamed state; disposition to rove or go unrestrained; rudeness; savageness; irregularity; distraction.