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obviate - 4 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


ob⋅vi⋅a⋅ble [ob-vee-uh-buhl] , adjective
ob⋅vi⋅a⋅tion, noun
ob⋅vi⋅a⋅tor, noun


preclude, avert, anticipate.
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.

Obviate

Ob"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Obviating.] [L. obviare; ob (see Ob-) + viare to go, fr. via way. See Voyage.]

1. To meet in the way. [Obs.]

Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different religion. --Fuller.

2. To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to remove from the way or path; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the necessity of going.

To lay down everything in its full light, so as to obviate all exceptions. --Woodward.

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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