divaricate adjective. [dʌɪ'varɪkǝt, dɪ-] L18.
[Latin divaricatus, formed as DIVARICATE verb, -ATE².]
Chiefly Botany & Zoology. Widely divergent; esp. (of a branch) having the stem almost at a right angle.

■ divaricately adverb M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

divaricate verb. [dʌɪ'varɪkeɪt, dɪ-] E17.
[Latin divaricat- pa. ppl stem of divaricare, formed as DI-¹ + varicare stretch (the legs) apart, from varicus straddling: see -ATE³.]
1. verb intrans. Stretch or spread apart; branch off, diverge; ramify. E17.
■ G. P. R. James Where these two [roads] divaricated, the horseman stopped.
b. Botany & Zoology. Diverge widely from a stem or main body. Chiefly as divaricated, divaricating ppl adjectives. M17.

2. verb trans. Stretch or open wide apart. L17.
■ Marvell I took my compasses, and divaricating them..I drew the circular line.

3. verb trans. Cause to spread or branch out in different directions. Now rare or obsolete. L17.

■ divaricatingly adverb in a divaricating manner L19.

■ divaricator noun something which divaricates; esp. (Surgery) a hinged instrument for holding portions of tissue apart; (Zoology, more fully

■ divaricator muscle) a muscle that separates parts, e.g. opens a brachiopod shell: L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲