avoid, avo i de, auoide, avoyd, auoyde (uv), avoyden

t. & i. [From Anglo-Fr. avoider; O. Fr. esvuidier = to empty out, to clear out.] [VOID, WIDE.) IMG:content-0934.png:[graphic] A. Transitive: I. Ordinary Language: 1. To void; to render void, empty, or of no effect. (1.) Literally : (a) To void; to render empty by expelling or emitting that previously contained in anything. "A toad contains not those urinary parts which are found in other animals to avoid that serous excretion." -Browne: Vulgar Errours. (b) To evacuate, to quit, and thus render empty, so far as the person evacuating the place is concerned. "What have you to do here, fellow? pray you, asoid the house."-Shakesp. Coriol ., iv. 5. "If any rebel should be required of the prince con federate, the prince confederate should command him to avoid the country."- Bacon . (2.) Fig .: To render void of effect; to annul or to vacate. "How can these grants of the king's be avoided , without wronging of those lords which had these lands and lordships given them?"- Spenser . 2. To keep at a distance from. (1.) Lit .: To keep at a distance from, to keep away from a person or place. "He, like an honest man, took no advantage of her unhappy state of mind, and did his best to avoid her." -Macaulay: Hist . Eng ., ch. xxv. IMG:content-0935.png:[blocks in formation] 1. To become void; to become vacant. "Bishop ricks are not included under benefices; so that if a person takes a bishop rick, it does not avoid by force of that law of pluralities, but by the ancient common law."- Ayliffe . 2. To withdraw, to retire, to depart. "And David avoided out of his presence twice."1 Sam . xviii. 11. "Descend to darkne , and the burning lake: False fiend, avoid!" Shakesp.: 2 Hen. VI., 1.4