Word of the Day

Thursday October 15, 2009

obviate [OB-vee-ayt]

transitive verb

To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to avoid or make unnecessary.

These companies are developing fully electric vehicles of their own, but for the moment, are emphasizing other technologies. Audi is pushing clean diesel engines, and Toyota is working on a hydrogen-based fuel cell technology that would obviate the need for heavy batteries.

Carter Dougherty, "Coming to Dealers Soon: An Array of Electric Cars", New York Times, Sep 16, 2009
"We're not committing ourselves to imposing regulation," he said. "What we would like is to figure out useful tools and a more comprehensive way of looking at privacy protections that may obviate the need for rules."

"Stephanie Clifford, "Fresh Views At Agency Overseeing Online Ads", New York Times, Aug 5, 2009
Some auxiliary provisions will therefore, it is presumed, be requisite, and it is hoped that these may be made consistently with a due regard to the convenience of our citizens, who cannot but be sensible of the true wisdom of encountering a small present addition to their contributions to obviate a future accumulation of burthens.

George Washington (1732 - 1799) The first President of the United States of America State of the Union Address (1790)

Origin of the Word

Obviate, approximately 1598, derives from Late Latin obviatus, past participle of obviare "act contrary to, go against," from Latin obvius "that is in the way, that moves against."