Pronunciation: [wɜː dɪflˈɛktɪd] (IPA) 
The word "were deflected" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /wɜr dɪˈflɛktɪd/. The first sound is the "w" sound, followed by the "schwa" sound in "were." The letter "r" is pronounced like the sound at the beginning of "red." The next two syllables have a short "i" sound and the "e" sound in "bet." The last syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound and a "t" sound at the end.
"Were deflected" is a phrase that refers to the action of diverting or changing the course or direction of something. It is commonly used to describe the movement or redirection of an object, such as a projectile or a beam of light, away from its original path.
In physics, this term specifically describes the alteration in the path of a moving object due to the influence of external forces. When an object encounters an external force, such as gravity or a physical obstruction, it can be deflected, causing it to deviate from its original trajectory. This change in direction can be temporary or permanent depending on the nature of the deflection.
In a broader context, the phrase "were deflected" can also be used figuratively to describe the alteration of someone's actions, attention, or opinions as a result of external factors or influences. For example, if someone had a specific plan but then encountered unexpected circumstances, their actions might be deflected, meaning they were redirected or changed due to external circumstances.
Overall, "were deflected" conveys the idea of a change in course or direction, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense, resulting from the influence of external factors.
The phrase "were deflected" is not a single word, but a combination of words. "Deflected" is the past participle of the verb "deflect", which means to change the direction of something. The word "deflect" originates from the Latin word "deflectere", which is a combination of "de-" meaning "away" or "off", and "flectere" meaning "to bend" or "to turn". So, "were deflected" means that something was turned or bent away from its original path.
