abwenden

Verb

 * 1)  to avert, to turn to the side
 * 2)  to turn away
 * 3)  to ward off

Usage notes

 * Only the regularized forms abwendete, abgewendet can be used in the sense of “to ward off”.
 * In the other meanings, the irregular forms abwandte, abgewandt are at least as common as the regularized forms.