obviation
(ɒbvɪˈeɪʃən)
[ad. L. obviātiōn-em, n. of action f. obviāre to obviate. Cf. OF. obviacion, -tion (14th c. in Godef.).]
1. The action of obviating or preventing, prevention.
| c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 100 A surgian muste þanne be bisy..wiþ obuiacioun defendinge þe lyme, þat noon of þe iij causis tofore seid ne come nouȝt into þe wounde. 1683 E. Hooker Pref. Pordage's Mystic Div. 64 By waie..of obviation, prævention, præoccupation, and anticipation. 1890 Times 20 June 5/1 The obviation of all cause of quarrel between Germany and England is..an object of great price. |
2. The use, in some American Indian languages, of the obviative (see next).
| 1927 L. Bloomfield in Internat. Jrnl. Amer. Linguistics IV. 191 Although obviation is confined to animate nouns.., verbs have obviative forms also for inanimate actors. 1974 P. H. Voorhis Introd. Kickapoo Lang. 45 A noun and a pronoun agreeing with it in gender, number, and obviation are used to form statements of the identity of the noun and pronoun. 1976 Language LII. 519 Obviation is analysed as a dimension of contrast within the 3rd person. |