Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: avertir, from Latin avertere, from ad- 'to' + vertere 'to turn'

avert

 verb
     
a‧vert [transitive]
1 to prevent something unpleasant from happening:
The tragedy could have been averted if the crew had followed safety procedures.
2

avert your eyes/gaze etc

to look away from something so that you do not see it:
Henry averted his eyes as she undressed.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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