n. & v.
--n.
1. a the legal dissolution of a marriage. b a legal decree of this.
2 a severance or separation (a divorce between thought and feeling).
--v.
1. a tr. (usu. as divorced adj.) (often foll. by from) legally dissolve the marriage of (a divorced couple; he wants to get divorced from her). b intr. separate by divorce (they divorced last year). c tr. end one's marriage with (divorced him for neglect).
2 tr. (often foll. by from) detach, separate (divorced from reality).
3 tr. archaic dissolve (a union).
Derivatives:
divorcement n.
Etymology: ME f. OF divorce (n.), divorcer (v.) f. LL divortiare f. L divortium f. divortere (as DI-(2), vertere turn)