Where does “avoid” come from?
Avoid comes from Middle English avoiden, from Old French esvuidier, meaning to empty or clear away.
avoid (English): to try not to meet or communicate with ; to shun;...
Definitions
- to try not to meet or communicate with ; to shun;...
Ancestry of “avoid”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | avoiden | — |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | avoider | to void; to avoid |
| 3 | Old French | esvuidier | to empty out |
Words derived from “avoid”