To prevent or obviate; to keep or ward off; = avoid, v. 10. Obsolete.

transitive. To avoid or enable someone to avoid (a burden, trouble, or inconvenience). Also: to obviate the need for (something costly or burdensome).

transitive. To meet and dispose of; to circumvent, do away with, remove (a difficulty, need, etc.); to prevent or avoid by anticipatory measures.

To prevent, to obviate, to keep off. Obsolete.