obviate

- 3 dictionary results

ob⋅vi⋅ate

[ob-vee-eyt]

–verb (used with object), -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.

to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary: to obviate the risk of serious injury.

Origin:
1590–1600; < L obviātus, ptp. of obviāre to act contrary to, deriv. of obvius; see obvious, -ate ¹

Related forms:

ob⋅vi⋅a⋅ble [ob-vee-uh-buh

, adjective

ob⋅vi⋅a⋅tion, noun

ob⋅vi⋅a⋅tor, noun

Synonyms:
preclude, avert, anticipate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To obviate

ob·vi·ate (ŏb'vē-āt')

tr.v. ob·vi·at·ed, ob·vi·at·ing, ob·vi·ates
To anticipate and dispose of effectively; render unnecessary. See Synonyms at prevent.

[Latin obviāre, obviāt-, to hinder, from obvius, in the way; see obvious.]
ob'vi·a'tion n., ob'vi·a'tor n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

obviate

1598, "to meet and do away with," from L.L. obviatus, pp. of obviare "act contrary to, go against," from L. obvius "that is in the way, that moves against" (see obvious).

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