avocat

v. t. [ L. avocatus, p. p. of avocare; a, ab + vocare to call. Cf. Avoke, and see Vocal, a. ] To call off or away; to withdraw; to transfer to another tribunal. [ Obs. or Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

One who avocateth his mind from other occupations. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

He, at last, . . . avocated the cause to Rome. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. avocatio. ] 1. A calling away; a diversion. [ Obs. or Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which calls one away from one's regular employment or vocation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

By the secular cares and avocations which accompany marriage the clergy have been furnished with skill in common life. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense the word is applied to the smaller affairs of life, or occasional calls which summon a person to leave his ordinary or principal business. Avocation (in the singular) for vocation is usually avoided by good writers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment; vocation. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are professions, among the men, no more favorable to these studies than the common avocations of women. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a few hours, above thirty thousand men left his standard, and returned to their ordinary avocations. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

An irregularity and instability of purpose, which makes them choose the wandering avocations of a shepherd, rather than the more fixed pursuits of agriculture. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Calling off. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]