KJV Dictionary Definition: distract

distract

DISTRACT, v.t. L., to draw. See draw and drag. The old participle distraught is obsolete.

1. Literally, to draw apart; to pull in different directions, and separate. Hence, to divide; to separate; and hence, to throw into confusion. Sometimes in a literal sense. Contradictory or mistaken orders may distract an army.

2. To turn or draw from any object; to divert from any point, towards another point or toward various other objects; as, to distract the eye or the attention.

If he cannot avoid the eye of the observer, he hopes to distract it by a multiplicity of the object.

3. To draw towards different objects; to fill with different considerations; to perplex; to confound; to harass; as, to distract the mind with cares; you distract me with your clamor.

While I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted. Psalm 88.

4. To disorder the reason; the derange the regular operations of intellect; to render raving or furious; most frequently used in the participle distracted.

DISTRACT, a. Mad. Not in use.

distracted

DISTRACTED, pp.

1. Drawn apart; drawn in different directions; diverted from its object; perplexed; harassed; confounded.

2. a. Deranged; disordered in intellect; raving; furious; mad; frantic.

distracter

DISTRACTER, n. One who distracts.

distracting

DISTRACTING, ppr. Drawing apart; separating; diverting from an object; perplexing; harassing; disordering the intellect.

distraction

DISTRACTION, n. L.

1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation.

2. Confusion from a multiplicity of objects crowding on the mind and calling the attention different ways; perturbation of mind; perplexity; as, the family was in a state of distraction. See 1 Corinthians 7.

3. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as political distractions.

Never was known a night of such distraction.

4. Madness; a state of disordered reason; franticness; furiousness. We usually apply this word to a state of derangement which produces raving and violence in the patient.

5. Folly in the extreme, or amounting to insanity.

On the supposition of the truth of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, irreligion is nothing better than distraction.

distractive

DISTRACTIVE, a. Causing perplexity; as distractive cases.