avoid

avoid
\ \ [14] Avoid at first meant literally ‘make void, empty’. It was formed in Old French from the adjective vuideempty’ (source of English void [13], and derived from a hypothetical Vulgar Latin *vocitus, which is related ultimately to vacant). With the addition of the prefix es- ‘out’, a verb evuider was formed, which passed into English via Anglo-Norman avoider. The original sense ‘empty’ barely survived into the 17th century, but meanwhile it had progressed through ‘withdrawing, so as to leave someone alone or leave a place empty’ to ‘deliberately staying away from someone or something’.
\ \ Cf.VACANT, VOID

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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Synonyms:
(in a negative sense, or denoting care only without positive exertion), , , , , , , , , , / , , (after cannot)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • avoid — vt [modification of Old French esvuider to destroy, literally, to empty, from es out + vuider to empty] 1: to make void or undo: annul the trustee may avoid any transfer of interest of the debtor in property U.S. Code 2: to respond to (an… …   Law dictionary

  • Avoid — A*void , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Avoided}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Avoiding}.] [OF. esvuidier, es (L. ex) + vuidier, voidier, to empty. See {Void}, a.] 1. To empty. [Obs.] Wyclif. [1913 Webster] 2. To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avoid — a‧void [əˈvɔɪd] verb [transitive] TAX LAW if you avoid tax, you manage to not pay it legally, for example by the way that you enter profits or losses into your accounts: • Investing in this way allows savers to avoid tax upon withdrawal. compare… …   Financial and business terms

  • avoid — avoid; avoid·a·ble; un·avoid·abil·i·ty; avoid·ant; avoid·ance; avoid·a·bly; un·avoid·able·ness; …   English syllables

  • avoid — [ə void′] vt. [ME avoiden < Anglo Fr avoider < OFr esvuidier, to empty < es (< L ex ), out + vuidier: see VOID] 1. to make void; annul, invalidate, or quash (a plea, etc. in law) 2. to keep away from; evade; shun [to avoid crowds] 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • avoid — avoid, avert, evade Avoid and evade overlap in meaning, but evade has a stronger sense of guile or trickery in escaping from an obligation (such as paying income tax). Avert means ‘to turn aside’ (which is its literal meaning in averting one s… …   Modern English usage

  • Avoid — A*void , v. i. 1. To retire; to withdraw. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] David avoided out of his presence. 1 Sam. xviii. 11. [1913 Webster] 2. (Law) To become void or vacant. [Obs.] Ayliffe. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avoid — (v.) c.1300, from Anglo Fr. avoider to clear out, withdraw (oneself), partially anglicized from O.Fr. esvuidier to empty out, from es out (see EX (Cf. ex )) + vuidier to be empty, from voide empty, vast, wide, hollow, waste (see VOID (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • avoid — *escape, shun, eschew, evade, elude Analogous words: avert, ward, *prevent, obviate: forestall, anticipate (see PREVENT): flee, fly (see ESCAPE) Antonyms: face: meet Contrasted words: *incur, contract, catch: court, solicit, * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • avoid — [v] refrain or stay away from; prevent abstain, avert, bypass, circumlocute, circumvent, deflect, desist, ditch, divert, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, fake out*, fend off, flee, give the slip*, hide, hold off, jump, keep clear, lay… …   New thesaurus

  • avoid — ► VERB 1) keep away or refrain from. 2) prevent from doing or happening. DERIVATIVES avoidable adjective avoidably adverb avoidance noun. ORIGIN Old French evuider clear out, get rid of …   English terms dictionary

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