obviate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb do away with
    rid of; eliminate.
  2. verb prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
    stave off; avert; debar; avoid; deflect; head off; forefend; fend off; ward off; forfend.
    • Let's avoid a confrontation
    • head off a confrontation
    • avert a strike

WordNet

Ob"vi*ate transitive verb
Etymology
L. obviare; ob (see Ob-) + viare to go, fr. via way. See Voyage.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Obviated ; present participle & verbal noun Obviating
Definitions
  1. To meet in the way. Obs.
    Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different religion. Fuller.
  2. To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to remove from the way or path; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the necessity of going.
    To lay down everything in its full light, so as to obviate all exceptions. Woodward.

Webster 1913