Obviate: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'obviare', meaning 'to stand in the way' or 'to prevent'.
• Originating in the early 17th century, it was adopted into English to describe measures against problems.
• It combines 'ob-' meaning 'against' and 'via' meaning 'way', highlighting the idea of blocking a path to an issue.

Usage in Law

• In legal contexts, obviating refers to preventing potential legal issues before they arise, similar to risk management.
• Lawyers often look for ways to obviate disputes through clear contracts and communication.
• Judicial rulings can obviate future cases by setting important legal precedents.

Philosophy

• Philosopher Henri Bergson proposed ideas that encouraged obviating problems by understanding the nature of time and experience.
• In utilitarian ethics, the goal is to obviate harm by considering the greatest good for the greatest number.
• The concept of 'preemptive action' in philosophy often relates to the idea of obviating potential harm through proactive approaches.

Literature

• In literature, protagonists often obviate conflict by making wise choices early in the narrative.
• Books that explore dystopian societies frequently feature characters who try to obviate tyranny before it takes root.
• The term is less common in poetry but can find usage to convey the foresight of preventing emotional pain.

Science

• In medical science, preventative measures such as vaccines obviate the risk of diseases spreading.
• Obviation plays a role in environmental science, where actions are taken to obviate pollution before it begins.
• Technology seeks to obviate issues in systems, such as using firewalls to prevent cyber threats.

At position #14,067, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

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• 14066 olfactory
• 14067 obviate
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• 14069 tumbling
• 14070 sanguine
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