[ad. L. āvocātiōn-em, n. of action f. āvocāre: see AVOCATE and -ATION. In sense 5 f. AVOCATE v. 2, and = OF. avocation, ad. L. advocātiōn-em: see ADVOCATION.]
I. (= L. āvocātio.)
1. The calling away or withdrawal (of a person) from an employment; diversion of the thoughts. arch. or Obs.
a. 1617. Hieron, Wks., 1634, II. 271. The many auocations and withdrawments from good which they are sure to meet with.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 363. Which could by no meanes make recompense for the least avocation of them from their Church imployment.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., VI. 11. I could be larger, but for a sudden auocation to business.
1758. Gray, in Poems (1775), 270. Try, by every method of avocation and amusement, whether you cannot … get the better of that dejection.
2. The condition of being called away, or having one’s attention diverted; distraction.
a. 1646. Twisse, in Mede’s Wks., IV. lxx. 846. The care whereof is apt to cause avocation and disturbance in that Unum necessarium.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., I. 26. Too long an avocation from their private concerns and amusements.
1844. S. Maitland, Dark Ages, 327. He devoted himself, with less avocation, to prayer.
3. That which has the effect of calling away or withdrawing one from an occupation. Hence, A minor or less important occupation, a by-work (πάρεργον).
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. ix. 281. Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations.
1752. Johnson, Rambl., No. 194, ¶ 11. He … appears to hear me, but is soon rescued from the lecture by more pleasing avocations.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 203. Upon some avocation, however, a noise I believe in the passage, the turnkey went.
1879. Furnivall, Rep. New Shaks. Soc., 9. If its editor’s new vocation (school-mastering) had left him time for the avocation of finishing his task for us.
4. But as, in many cases, the business which called away was one of equal or greater importance (see quot. in a., where avocation is rightly used), the new meaning was improperly foisted upon the word: Ordinary employment, usual occupation, vocation, calling.
a. 1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys.-Mech., Proem 19. The onely [experiments] wherewith my Avocations will allow me to entertain your Lordship in this Letter.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. In the hurry of avocations for the necessities of life, little was the time he could apply to abstract speculations.
1804. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., III. 557. Prevented by other avocations of extensive national importance, from a residence in Mysore.
1840. Macaulay, Ranke, Ess. (1854), II. 552/2. Found, even in the midst of his most pressing avocations, time for private prayer.
b. 1761. New Comp. Fest. & Fasts, xxxvi. § 2. 353. When a universal weakness and decay enfeebles us from even the common avocations of life.
1815. Moore, Lalla R. (1824), 337. Poetry was by no means his proper avocation.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., ii. 280. My avocation is in London city.
1858. Buckle, Civiliz. (1873), II. viii. 498. War and religion were the only two avocations worthy of being followed.
II. (= L. advocātio.)
5. The calling of a cause or action before itself by a superior court; = ADVOCATION 2.
1529. Dr. Bennet, To Wolsey, in Burnet, Hist. Ref. (1679), I. Rec. 80. His Holiness may … the more boldly deny Avocations to the Cæsareans.
1683. Burnet, Hist. Rej. Abr., 49. The Queen’s Agents pressed hard for an Avocation.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng., II. ix. 312. His unjust avocation of the cause to Rome.
