divers

1. pluralplural of diver

comparative more divers · superlative most divers · alternative obsolete diuers

1. archaicArchaic form of diverse, in the sense of various or assorted.

   Divers plans and numerous devices were tried to stop the leakage.

   1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 112

   5 more examples

   Also the rule of false position, with dyuers examples not onely vulgar, but some appertaynyng to the rule of Algeber.

   1551, James A.H. Murray, editor, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society., volume 1, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1888, Part 1, page 217

   And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 4:24

   But to-night, the third rainy evening of three rainy days, every flower in the divers china bowls, cups, vases, was withered; the harp was out of tune with the damp; and Emily betook herself to the leafy labyrinth of a muslin flounce, la belle alliance of uselessness and industry.

   1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Romance and Reality. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 8

   Shortly after this I had to go out of town. Divers sound sportsmen had invited me to pay visits to their country places, and it wasn't for several months that I settled down in the city again.

   1919, P. G. Wodehouse, My Man Jeeves

   One of the most formidable of the heretical movements of the Middle Ages was Lollardy or Lollery. The Lollard movement was made up of divers elements, [...]

   1949, William Dale Morris, The Christian Origins of Social Revolt, page 25

alternative obsolete diuers

1. archaicliteraryAn indefinite number (at least two).

   Tubal: There came divers of Antonio’s creditors in my company to Venice that swear he cannot choose but break.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]