Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “obviate” come from?

Obviate comes from Latin obviare, derived from obvio, which combines via (way) from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- with a root meaning to strike or pierce.

obviate (English): To anticipate and prevent or bypass; To avoid

Definitions

  1. To anticipate and prevent or bypass; To avoid

Ancestry of “obviate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinobviātus—
2LatinobvioI resist, withstand; I prevent, hinder, obviate;...
3Latinobviusin the way; meeting; affable, courteous
4Latinob-towards; against
5Latinobolusobolus
6Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
7Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
8Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
9Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
10Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

Words derived from “obviate”

  • obviation
  • obviative
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →