1. [n]  the legal dissolution of a marriage
2. [v]  part; cease or break association with; "She disassociated herself from the organization when she found out the identity of the president"
3. [v]  get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage; "The couple divorced after only 6 months"

1. \Di*vorce"\, n. [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr.
   divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate.
   See {Divert}.]
   1. (Law)
      (a) A legal dissolution of the marriage contract by a
          court or other body having competent authority. This
          is properly a divorce, and called, technically,
          divorce a vinculo matrimonii. ``from the bond of
          matrimony.''
      (b) The separation of a married woman from the bed and
          board of her husband -- divorce a mensa et toro (or
          thoro), ``from bed board.''
   
   2. The decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved.
   
   3. Separation; disunion of things closely united.
   
            To make divorce of their incorporate league. --Shak.
   
   4. That which separates. [Obs.] --Shak.
   
   {Bill of divorce}. See under {Bill}.
   
   

2. \Di*vorce"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Divorced}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Divorcing}.] [Cf. F. divorcer. See {Divorce}, n.]
   1. To dissolve the marriage contract of, either wholly or
      partially; to separate by divorce.
   
   2. To separate or disunite; to sunder.
   
            It [a word] was divorced from its old sense.
                                                  --Earle.
   
   3. To make away; to put away.
   
            Nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities.
                                                  --Shak.
   
   

The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law (Deut. 24:1-4). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the law (Ezra 10:11-19). Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight pretences (Matt. 5:31, 32; 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). These precepts given by Christ regulate the law of divorce in the Christian Church.