divaricate

verb di·var·i·cate \dī-ˈver-ə-ˌkāt, də, -ˈva-rə-\

di·var·i·cat·eddi·var·i·cat·ing

Definition of DIVARICATE

transitive verb

: to spread apart : branch off : diverge

Latin divaricatus, past participle of divaricare, from dis- + varicare to straddle — more at prevaricate

First Known Use: 1673

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