— deviatory /dee"vee euh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , deviative , adj.
/dee'vee ay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of deviating.
2. departure from a standard or norm.
3. Statistics. the difference between one of a set of values and some fixed value, usually the mean of the set.
4. Navig. the error of a magnetic compass, as that of a ship, on a given heading as a result of local magnetism. Cf. variation (def. 8).
5. Optics.
a. Also called deflection . the bending of rays of light away from a straight line.
b. See angle of deviation .
6. departure or divergence from an established dogma or ideology, esp. a Communist one.
[ 1375-1425; late ME ( deviation- (s. of deviatio ), equiv. to LL deviat ( us ) (see DEVIATE) + -ion- -ION ]