Distract \Dis*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distracted, old p.
   p. Distraught; p. pr. & vb. n. Distracting.]
   1. To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin.
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            A city . . . distracted from itself.  --Fuller.
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   2. To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different
      directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the
      eye; to distract the attention.
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            Mixed metaphors . . . distract the imagination.
                                                  --Goldsmith.
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   3. To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of
      motives or of cares; to confound; to harass.
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            Horror and doubt distract
            His troubled thoughts.                --Milton.
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   4. To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to
      madden; -- most frequently used in the participle,
      distracted.
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            A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath distracted her.
                                                  --Shak.
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Distracting \Dis*tract"ing\, a.
   Tending or serving to distract.
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