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obviate

ob·vi·ate [ óbvee àyt ] (past and past participle ob·vi·at·ed, present participle ob·vi·at·ing, 3rd person present singular ob·vi·ates)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. make something unnecessary: to make something unnecessary ( formal )

2. avoid something: to anticipate and so avoid something

[Late 16th century. < Latin obviat-, past participle of obviare "withstand," literally "stand in the way of" < via "way"]

ob·vi·a·tion [ òbvee áysh'n ] noun

Word Usage
obviate the need for:

Because one of the meanings of obviate is "to make unnecessary," it is sometimes argued that obviate the need (or necessity) for is redundant. An older but still current meaning, however, is "to avoid an anticipated difficulty." In a sentence like Addressing these issues early can obviate any need for a joint resolution, the need can be perceived as a difficulty - or early consideration can make the resolution unnecessary, in which case any need for is indeed redundant. There is little reason to prefer either interpretation to the other, except that substitution of to make unnecessary allows much the same thought to be expressed with fewer words.

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