divorce Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the legal dissolution of a marriage
    divorcement.
  2. verb part; cease or break association with
    dissociate; disjoint; disassociate; disunite.
    • She disassociated herself from the organization when she found out the identity of the president
  3. verb get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage
    split up.
    • The couple divorced after only 6 months

WordNet

Di*vorce" noun
Etymology
F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.
Definitions
  1. (Law) (a) A legal dissolution of the marriage contract by a court or other body having competent authority. This is properly a divorce, and called, technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii. "from the bond of matrimony." (b) The separation of a married woman from the bed and board of her husband -- divorce a mensa et toro (∨ thoro), "from bed board."
  2. The decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved.
  3. Separation; disunion of things closely united.
    To make divorce of their incorporate league. Shak.
  4. That which separates. Obs. Shak.
Di*vorce" transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. divorcer. See Divorce, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Divorced ; present participle & verbal noun Divorcing
Definitions
  1. To dissolve the marriage contract of, either wholly or partially; to separate by divorce.
  2. To separate or disunite; to sunder.
    It [a word] was divorced from its old sense. Earle.
  3. To make away; to put away.
    Nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities. Shak.

Webster 1913