avocation
(ævəʊˈkeɪʃən)
[ad. L. āvocātiōn-em, n. of action f. āvocāre: see avocate and -ation. In sense 5 f. avocate v. 2, and = OF. avocation, ad. L. advocātiōn-em: see advocation.]
I. (= L. āvocātio.)
1. The calling away or withdrawal (of a person) from an employment; diversion of the thoughts. arch. or Obs.
| a 1617 Hieron Wks. 1634 II. 271 The many auocations and withdrawments from good which they are sure to meet with. 1642 Jer. Taylor Episc. (1647) 363 Which could by no meanes make recompense for the least avocation of them from their Church imployment. c 1645 Howell Lett. vi. 11, I could be larger, but for a sudden auocation to business. 1758 Gray in Poems (1775) 270 Try, by every method of avocation and amusement, whether you cannot..get the better of that dejection. |
2. The condition of being called away, or having one's attention diverted; distraction.
| a 1646 Twisse in Mede's Wks. iv. lxx. 846 The care whereof is apt to cause avocation and disturbance in that Unum necessarium. 1768 Blackstone Comm. I. 26 Too long an avocation from their private concerns and amusements. 1844 S. R. Maitland Dark Ages 327 He devoted himself, with less avocation, to prayer. |
3. That which has the effect of calling away or withdrawing one from an occupation. Hence, A minor or less important occupation, a by-work (πάρεργον).
| 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. ix. 281 Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations. 1752 Johnson Rambl. No. 194 ¶11 He..appears to hear me, but is soon rescued from the lecture by more pleasing avocations. 1794 Godwin Cal. Williams 203 Upon some avocation, however, a noise I believe in the passage, the turnkey went. 1879 Furnivall Rep. New Shaks. Soc. 9 If its editor's new vocation (school-mastering) had left him time for the avocation of finishing his task for us. |
4. But as, in many cases, the business which called away was one of equal or greater importance (see quot. in a., where avocation is rightly used), the new meaning was improperly foisted upon the word: Ordinary employment, usual occupation, vocation, calling.
| a. 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys.-Mech. Proem 19 The onely [experiments] wherewith my Avocations will allow me to entertain your Lordship in this Letter. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. II, In the hurry of avocations for the necessities of life, little was the time he could apply to abstract speculations. 1804 Wellington in Gurwood Disp. III. 557 Prevented by other avocations of extensive national importance, from a residence in Mysore. 1840 Macaulay Ranke, Ess. (1854) II. 552/2 Found, even in the midst of his most pressing avocations, time for private prayer. |
| b. 1761 New Comp. Fest. & Fasts xxxvi. §2. 353 When a universal weakness and decay enfeebles us from even the common avocations of life. 1815 Moore Lalla R. (1824) 337 Poetry was by no means his proper avocation. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. ii. 280 My avocation is in London city. 1858 Buckle Civiliz. (1873) II. viii. 498 War and religion were the only two avocations worthy of being followed. |
II. (= L. advocātio.)
5. The calling of a cause or action before itself by a superior court; = advocation 2.
| 1529 Dr. Bennet To Wolsey in Burnet Hist. Ref. (1679) I. Rec. 80 His Holiness may..the more boldly deny Avocations to the Cæsareans. 1683 Burnet Hist. Ref. Abr. 49 The Queen's Agents pressed hard for an Avocation. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. II. ix. 312 His unjust avocation of the cause to Rome. |