# divided

Pronunciation: US say "di-VY-did" /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/; UK say "di-VYD-id" /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/

## Adjective

1. Separated or split apart into distinct sections or pieces.
   - Simple: Broken or split apart into separate pieces or parts.
   - _The divided estate was sold off as several smaller lots._
   - _Workers carried the divided slab away in two heavy halves._
2. In disagreement or inner conflict because of differences in opinion, interests, or feelings.
   - Simple: Not in agreement, because people hold different opinions or feelings.
   - _The jury remained divided about the defendant's intent._
   - _She felt divided between staying home and taking the job overseas._
4. Of a road, separated into opposing lanes of traffic by a central median. *(US)*
   - Simple: A road split into two sets of lanes that go in opposite directions, kept apart by a strip in the middle.
   - _A divided highway reduces head-on collisions by keeping opposing traffic apart._
   - _They widened the route into a divided road with a grassy median._
5. Lacking unity; split into opposing factions or groups.
   - Simple: No longer united, with members pulled into separate opposing groups.
   - _The party grew increasingly divided in the months after the election._
   - _A divided organization rarely survives a serious external threat._

## Verb

3. Simple past and past participle of divide. — simple past and past participle of divide
   - Simple: Simple past and past participle of divide. Use it for splitting that already happened.
   - _The teacher divided the class into small discussion groups._
   - _The estate was divided equally among the surviving heirs._

## Origin

**Meaning 3** — From divide.
**Meanings 1–2, 4–5** — This comes from Middle English "divided" (also spelled "devided" or "devidid"), the past participle of the verb "dividen" ("to divide"), equivalent to "divide" plus "-ed."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/divided (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).