deflect
deflect (de*flekt") , transitive verb
[Latin deflectere; de- + flectere to bend or turn. See Flexible.]
To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected; to deflect a punch; to deflect criticism by acknowledging a mistake.
Sitting with their knees deflected under them.
Deflect , intransitive verb
To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.
At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not, but lieth in the true meridian.
To deflect from the line of truth and reason.