This word came into English in the early 18th century as a ballet term — a divertissement is a short dance within a larger ballet, intended to showcase a dancer’s skill without being a part of the larger story. For example, in “The Nutcracker,” Act 2 features several divertissements, including the Spanish Dance, the Arabian Dance, and the Waltz of the Flowers. Later, people began to use the word “divertissement” for any minor entertainment or distraction — it could be a performer between acts at a festival, or the word game you play on your phone while in a waiting room.