v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Avoided; p. pr. & vb. n. Avoiding. ] [ OF. esvuidier, es (L. ex) + vuidier, voidier, to empty. See Void, a. ] 1. To empty. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To quit or evacuate; to withdraw from. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Six of us only stayed, and the rest avoided
the room. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make void; to annul or vacate; to refute. [ 1913 Webster ]

How can these grants of the king's be avoided? Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To keep away from; to keep clear of; to endeavor no to meet; to shun; to abstain from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters. [ 1913 Webster ]

What need a man forestall his date of grief.
And run to meet what he would most avoid ? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He carefully avoided every act which could goad them into open hostility. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To get rid of. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Pleading) To defeat or evade; to invalidate. Thus, in a replication, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by stating new matter. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To escape; elude; evade; eschew. -- To Avoid, Shun. Avoid in its commonest sense means, to keep clear of, an extension of the meaning, to withdraw one's self from. It denotes care taken not to come near or in contact; as, to avoid certain persons or places. Shun is a stronger term, implying more prominently the idea of intention. The words may, however, in many cases be interchanged. [ 1913 Webster ]

No man can pray from his heart to be kept from temptation, if the take no care of himself to avoid it. Mason. [ 1913 Webster ]

So Chanticleer, who never saw a fox,
Yet shunned him as a sailor shuns the rocks. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To retire; to withdraw. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

David avoided out of his presence. 1 Sam. xviii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) To become void or vacant. [ Obs. ] Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Capable of being vacated; liable to be annulled or made invalid; voidable. [ 1913 Webster ]

The charters were not avoidable for the king's nonage. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being avoided, shunned, or escaped. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of annulling; annulment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of becoming vacant, or the state of being vacant; -- specifically used for the state of a benefice becoming void by the death, deprivation, or resignation of the incumbent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wolsey, . . . on every avoidance of St. Peter's chair, was sitting down therein, when suddenly some one or other clapped in before him. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A dismissing or a quitting; removal; withdrawal. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act of avoiding or shunning; keeping clear of. “The avoidance of pain.” Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The courts by which anything is carried off. [ 1913 Webster ]

Avoidances and drainings of water. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The person who carries anything away, or the vessel in which things are carried away. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who avoids, shuns, or escapes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unavoidable; inevitable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Conferva + -oid. ] Like, or related to, the confervae. Loudon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. devoiden to leave, OF. desvuidier, desvoidier, to empty out. See Void. ] To empty out; to remove. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Devoid, v. t. ] 1. Void; empty; vacant. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute; not in possession; -- with of; as, devoid of sense; devoid of pity or of pride. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Naevus + -oid. ] Resembling a naevus or naevi; as, naevoid elephantiasis. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A solid resembling an egg in shape. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Ovum + -oid: cf. F. ovoïde. ] Resembling an egg in shape; egg-shaped; ovate; as, an ovoidal apple.
Syn. -- oviform. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not avoidable; incapable of being shunned or prevented; inevitable; necessary; as, unavoidable troubles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Not voidable; incapable of being made null or void. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unavoidable hemorrhage (Med.), hemorrhage produced by the afterbirth, or placenta, being situated over the mouth of the womb so as to require detachment before the child can be born. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Un`a*void"a*ble*ness, n. -- Un`a*void"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not avoided or shunned. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unavoidable; inevitable. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

See obnoxious.
See observable.
See observant.
See obstructive.
See obvious.
See official.
See officious.
See oppressive.
See ordinary.
See ordinate.
See original.
See ornamental.
See orthodox.
See ostentatious.
See pacifiable.
See pacific.
See painful.
See palatable.
See parallelable.
See pardonable.
See partable.
See participant.
See passionate.
See pastoral.
See pathetic.
See patriotic.
See peaceable.
See peaceful.
See pedantic.
See perceivable.
See perceptible.
See perilous.
See permanent.
See personable.
See perspirable.
See persuadable.
See persuasive.
See philanthropic.
See philosophic.
See philosophical.
See physical.
See picturesque.
See pierceable.
See pitiful.
See plain.
See plausible.
See plausive.
See pleadable.
See pleasurable.
See pliable.
See pliant.
See plumb.
See poetic.
See poetical.
See political.
See popular.
See populous.
See portable.
See potable.
See precarious.
See precise.
See pregnant.
See prejudicate.
See prelatical.
See premeditable.
See presentable.
See preservable.
See presumptuous.
See pretentious.
See pretty.
See prevalent.
See priestly.
See primitive.
See princely.
See procurable.
See producible.
See productive.
See professional.
See profitable.
See prolific.
See pronounceable.
See prophetic.
See propitious.
See proportionable.
See proportionate.
See prosperous.
See provable.
See punctilious.
See punctual.
See punishable.
See pure.
See qualifiable.
See quenchable.
See quiet.
See rational.
See readable.
See reasonable.
See recallable.
See reclaimable.
See recognizable.
See reconcilable.
See recoverable.
See recumbent.
See reformable.
See refusable.
See regardable.
See regardant.
See relative.
See relievable.
See reluctant.
See remarkable.
See remediable.
See rememberable.
See remorseful.
See removable.
See remunerative.
See repairable.
See repealable.
See repentant.
See reprovable.
See repugnant.
See requisite.
See requitable.
See resolvable.
See respectable.
See restful.
See retentive.
See returnable.
See revengeful.
See ridable.
See ridiculous.
See rightful.
See romantic.
See rough.
See royal.
See ruinable.
See ruly.
See sacrificial.
See safe.
See sage.
See sailable.
See salable.
See sane.
See sanguine.
See sanitary.
See satisfactory.
See satisfiable.
See saturable.
See savory.
See scalable.
See scaly.
See scholarly.
See scholastic.
See scientific.
See scornful.
See scriptural.
See sculptural.
See seaworthy.
See sectarian.
See secular.
See sedentary.
See selfish.
See sentient.
See sentimental.
See serviceable.
See severe.
See shamefaced.
See shamefast.
See shapely.
See shy.
See sick.
See sicker.
See sightly.
See simple.
See sinewy.
See sizable.
See sleek.
See slumberous.
See sly.
See smooth.
See smotherable.
See smutty.
See sober.
See sociable.
See social.
See solemn.
See soliciutous.
See solvable.
See speakable.
See speedy.
See spiritual.
See spontaneous.
See sportful.
See sportsmanlike.
See statutable.
See steadfast.
See steady.
See stormy.
See stout.
See strong.
See subduable.
See subject.
See submissive.
See subordinate.
See substantial.
See successive.
See succorable.
See suggestive.
See suitable.
See sunny.
See superfluous.
See supple.
See sure.
See surpassable.
See susceptible.
See suspect.
See suspectable.
See suspicious.
See sustainable.
See sweet.
See syllogistical.
See symbolic.
See sympathetic.
See systematic.
See tamable.
See tame.
See teachable.
See technical.
See tellable.
See tenable.
See tender.
See terrestrial.
See terrific.
See thankful.
See theological.
See thinkable.
See thirsty.
See thorny.
See thoughtful.
See tidy.
See tillable.
See toothsome.
See touchable.
See traceable.
See tractable.
See tragic.
See tranquil.
See transferable.
See translatable.
See transmutable.
See transparent.
See transpassable.
See traversable.
See tremulous.
See trimphant.
See trustworthy.
See trusty.
See tumultous.
See tunable.
See uniform.
See usable.
See useful.
See vanquishable.
See variant.
See venerable.
See venomous.
See veracious.
See verdant.
See veritable.
See vigilant.
See vigorous.
See virtuous.
See vital.
See vitrifiable.
See vocal.
See voidable.
See voluptuous.
See voyageable.
See vulgar.
See walkable.
See warlike.
See watchful.
See watery.
See wealthy.
See wearable.
See weary.
See welcome.
See wet.
See wholesome.
See wieldsome.
See willful.
See wily.
See witty.
See womanly.
See workable.
See workmanlike.
See worldly.
See worshipful.
See wrathful.
See writable.
See zealous.
------ and the like.
[ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. voide, OF. voit, voide, vuit, vuide, F. vide, fr. (assumed) LL. vocitus, fr. L. vocare, an old form of vacare to be empty, or a kindred word. Cf. Vacant, Avoid. ] 1. Containing nothing; empty; vacant; not occupied; not filled. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earth was without form, and void. Gen. i. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

I 'll get me to a place more void. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I 'll chain him in my study, that, at void hours,
I may run over the story of his country. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having no incumbent; unoccupied; -- said of offices and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Divers great offices that had been long void. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Being without; destitute; free; wanting; devoid; as, void of learning, or of common use. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A conscience void of offense toward God. Acts xxiv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor. Prov. xi. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not producing any effect; ineffectual; vain. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ My word ] shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. Isa. lv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will make void the counsel of Judah. Jer. xix. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Containing no immaterial quality; destitute of mind or soul. “Idol, void and vain.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) Of no legal force or effect, incapable of confirmation or ratification; null. Cf. Voidable, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Void space (Physics), a vacuum. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Empty; vacant; devoid; wanting; unfurnished; unsupplied; unoccupied. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An empty space; a vacuum. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pride, where wit fails, steps in to our defense,
And fills up all the mighty void of sense. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Voided; p. pr. & vb. n. Voiding. ] [ OF. voidier, vuidier. See Void, a. ] 1. To remove the contents of; to make or leave vacant or empty; to quit; to leave; as, to void a table. [ 1913 Webster ]

Void anon her place. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

If they will fight with us, bid them come down,
Or void the field. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To throw or send out; to evacuate; to emit; to discharge; as, to void excrements. [ 1913 Webster ]

A watchful application of mind in voiding prejudices. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

With shovel, like a fury, voided out
The earth and scattered bones. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To render void; to make to be of no validity or effect; to vacate; to annul; to nullify. [ 1913 Webster ]

After they had voided the obligation of the oath he had taken. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was become a practice . . . to void the security that was at any time given for money so borrowed. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be emitted or evacuated. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Capable of being voided, or evacuated. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Capable of being avoided, or of being adjudged void, invalid, and of no force; capable of being either avoided or confirmed. [ 1913 Webster ]

If the metropolitan . . . grants letters of administration, such administration is not, but voidable by sentence. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A voidable contract may be ratified and confirmed; to render it null and of no effect, it must be avoided; a void contract can not be ratified. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of voiding, emptying, ejecting, or evacuating. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.) A ejection from a benefice. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being void; vacancy, as of a benefice which is without an incumbent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Evasion; subterfuge. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Emptied; evacuated. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Annulled; invalidated. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) Having the inner part cut away, or left vacant, a narrow border being left at the sides, the tincture of the field being seen in the vacant space; -- said of a charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, voids, &unr_;mpties, vacates, or annuls. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tray, or basket, formerly used to receive or convey that which is voided or cleared away from a given place; especially, one for carrying off the remains of a meal, as fragments of food; sometimes, a basket for containing household articles, as clothes, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Piers Plowman laid the cloth, and Simplicity brought in the voider. Decker. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cloth whereon the earl dined was taken away, and the voider, wherein the plate was usually put, was set upon the cupboard's head. Hist. of Richard Hainam. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A servant whose business is to void, or clear away, a table after a meal. [ R. ] Decker. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Her.) One of the ordinaries, much like the flanch, but less rounded and therefore smaller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of one who, or that which, voids. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is voided; that which is ejected or evacuated; a remnant; a fragment. [ R. ] Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Voiding knife, a knife used for gathering up fragments of food to put them into a voider. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Receiving what is ejected or voided. “How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood?” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being void; emptiness; vacuity; nullity; want of substantiality. [ 1913 Webster ]