Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
DIVORCE
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English divorse, from Anglo-French, from Latin divortium, from divertere, divortere to divert, to leave one's husband
Date: 14th century
the action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage, separation , severance ,
II. verb (divorced; divorcing)
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. to end marriage with (one's spouse) by divorce , to dissolve the marriage contract between , to make or keep separate ; separate , intransitive verb to obtain a divorce, see: separate divorcement noun