obviate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ob=vi=ate

CIDE DICTIONARY

obviate, v. t. [L. obviare; ob (see Ob-) + viare to go, fr. via way. See Voyage.].

•  To meet in the way.  [1913 Webster]

  "Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different religion."  [1913 Webster]
•  To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to remove from the way or path; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the necessity of going.  [1913 Webster]

  "To lay down everything in its full light, so as to obviate all exceptions."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

obviate, v.tr. get round or do away with (a need, inconvenience, etc.).

Derivative

obviation n.

Etymology

LL obviare oppose (as OB-, via way)

THESAURUS

obviate

anticipate, avert, bar, debar, deflect, deter, discourage, dishearten, estop, exclude, fend, fend off, forbid, foreclose, forestall, help, interfere, interpose, intervene, keep from, keep off, preclude, prevent, prohibit, repel, rule out, save, stave off, turn aside, ward, ward off

ROGET THESAURUS

obviate

Hindrance

VB hinder, impede, filibuster, impedite, embarrass, keep off, stave off, ward off, obviate, avert, antevert, turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud, retard, slacken, check, let, counteract, countercheck, preclude, debar, foreclose, estop, inhibit, shackle, restrict, obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock, block, block up, choke off, belay, barricade, block the way, bar the way, stop the way, forelay, dam up, put on the brake, scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel, put a stop to, traverse, contravene, interrupt, intercept, oppose, hedge in, hedge round, cut off, inerclude, interpose, interfere, intermeddle, cramp, hamper, clog, clog the wheels, cumber, encumber, incumber, handicap, choke, saddle with, load with, overload, lay, lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience, incommode, discommode, discompose, hustle, corner, drive into a corner, run foul of, fall foul of, cross the path of, break in upon, thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil, faze, feaze, feeze, baffle, snub, override, circumvent, defeat, spike guns, spoil, mar, clip the wings of, cripple, put an extinguisher on, damp, dishearten, discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport, lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on, cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine, be in the way of, stand in the way of, act as a drag, hang like a millstone round one's neck.