Past tense of advert; to turn attention toward something, to refer to something briefly.
From Latin 'advertere' (to turn toward, to notice): 'ad-' (to, toward) + 'vertere' (to turn). In Middle English it developed into 'advert,' meaning to direct attention toward or mention something in passing.
The word 'advert' means to mention something in passing, but its Latin root 'vertere' (to turn) reminds us that attention is literal 'turning'—your whole mind and head literally reorient toward something when you pay attention.
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