Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Avoid, v. Also: avoide, avoyd(e, auoid, auoyde, awoid, awode. [ME. avoide, avoyde (Wyclif), AF. avoider: cf. Void v.]

1. tr. To remove, put away; to expel.a1500 Lanc. 2474 (the which awodith Saturn). c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. i. 17 (that the croce be nocht avoidit away). 1531 Bell. Boece II. 465 (avoid all this lament out of your breistis). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 26/31 (all the perrell I sall auoyde away). 1567 G. Ball. 118 (auoyde furth of thy remembrance our sinful lyfe). 1585 Reg. Morton I. 143 (that all ministers avoyd thame selffis out of this cuntrey).

2. To clear of occupants; to empty.1560 Rolland Seven S. 33/15 (the emprice causit auoide all the chamlers anone).

3. To keep away or escape from.1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 142 (as all gude men wald avoide the wraith of God). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 16/29 (to auoide sa greit and perrellous things); 29/31 (sum danger to auoid). a1578 Pitsc. II. 132/27 (to avoyd fornicatioun). 1596 Dalr. I. 50/20 (thay avoyd al occasione, sa far as is possible); Ib. 121/12 (lat him thair eftir avoyd his cumpanie).

4. To depart from, to leave.1569-73 Bann. Memor. 114 (he desyrit all … to avoyd the toun within sex horis). 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII. 146 b (to awoid and leif the samyn [land]). 1600-1610 Melvill 513 (the commissioners wer commandit to avoid the toune).