- distraction (n.)
- mid-15c., "the drawing away of the mind," from Latin distractionem (nominative distractio) "a pulling apart, separating," noun of action from past participle stem of distrahere (see distract). Meaning "mental disturbance" (in driven to distraction, etc.) is c. 1600. Meaning "a thing or fact that distracts" is from 1610s.
