deflect — Defs

01 v. t. To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected; to deflect a punch; to deflect criticism by acknowledging a mistake.

imp. & p. p. Deflected; p. pr. & vb. n. Deflecting

1.
To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected; to deflect a punch; to deflect criticism by acknowledging a mistake.
“Sitting with their knees deflected under them.” — Lord (1630).

02 v. i. To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.

1.
To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.
“At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not, but lieth in the true meridian.” — Sir T. Browne.

“To deflect from the line of truth and reason.” — Warburton.