Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Late Latin
Origin: , past participle of obviare 'to meet, be unharmed by', from Latin obviam 'in the way'

obviate

 verb
     
ob‧vi‧ate [transitive]
formal to prevent or avoid a problem or the need to do something [= eliminate]:
The new treatment obviates the need for surgery.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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