obviate
/ˈab.viˌeɪt/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.11 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To anticipate and prevent or bypass (something which would otherwise have been necessary or required); to render (something) unnecessary.
Transitive verb
Example Sentences
- "[…] and in the kindest manner she now urged Fanny’s taking one for the cross and to keep for her sake, saying everything she could think of to obviate the scruples which were making Fanny start back at first with a look of horror at the proposal."
- "The door it was necessary to keep ajar in hers, as in most cottages, because of the smoke; but she obviated the effect of the ribbon of light through the chink by hanging a cloth over that also."
- "A mild dose of a warm active aperient to obviate costiveness, or to produce two motions daily, is generally very beneficial."
- "If the predisposition to the disease has arisen from a plethoric state of the system, or from a turgescence in the vessels of the head, this is to be obviated by bleeding, both generally and topically, but more particularly the latter; an abstemious diet and proper exercise; and by a seton in the neck."
- "Some change requests, rather than extend the scope, obviate some of the existing scope of a project."
- "Thus, to obviate resistance, the discussion should be relevant to the patient′s problems."
Etymology
Origin
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈab.viˌeɪt/
- British English: /ˈɒb.viˌeɪt/