From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Obviate \Ob"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obviated}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Obviating}.] [L. obviare; ob (see {Ob-}) + viare to
go, fr. via way. See {Voyage}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To meet in the way. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different
religion. --Fuller.
[1913 Webster]
2. To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to remove from
the way or path; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the
necessity of going.
[1913 Webster]
To lay down everything in its full light, so as to
obviate all exceptions. --Woodward.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
obviate
v 1: do away with [syn: {obviate}, {rid of}, {eliminate}] [ant:
{ask}, {call for}, {demand}, {involve}, {necessitate},
{need}, {postulate}, {require}, {take}]
2: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's
avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a
strike" [syn: {debar}, {forefend}, {forfend}, {obviate},
{deflect}, {avert}, {head off}, {stave off}, {fend off},
{avoid}, {ward off}]
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