Forms: 4–6 au- avoydaunce, 5 avoydans, 6 advoidance, 6–8 au- avoydance, auoidance, 6– avoidance. [f. AVOID v. + -ANCE; prob. (from the date) in AFr.]
† 1. The action of emptying a vessel, etc., or of emptying away its contents; hence, a clearing away, removal; ejection, excretion. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. lxix. (1495), 290. Leest there be to grete auoydaunce.
c. 1430. Freemasonry, 712. From spyttynge and snyftynge kepe the also, By privy avoydans let hyt go.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, 85. For … advoidance of ymage worshyp.
1577. Test. 12 Patriarchs, 108. [God] hath assigned … the belly to the avoidance of the stomach.
1627. Speed, Eng. Abridged, X. § 3. Wolues, for whose auoydance Edgar the peaceable did impose a yearely Tribute.
1661. Morgan, Sph. Gentry, IV. iii. 36. Until … Supper and Avoydance be done and accomplished.
† b. A means of emptying; an outlet. Obs.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 122 a. A great standing water … fed by no perceyved spring, neither having any avoydance.
1625. Bacon, Build., Ess. (Arb.), 553. Fountaines, Running … from the Wall, with some fine Auoidances.
2. The action of making void or of no effect; voidance, invalidation, annulment. (Esp. in Law.)
1628. Coke, On Litt., 261 b. If a man in auoydance of a fine … alleage that hee was out of this Realme in Spaine, at the time of leuying of the fine.
a. 1832. Mackintosh, Hist. Rev., Wks. 1846, II. 119. Some members were threatened with the avoidance of their elections.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), V. IX. iv. 246. The obsequious clergy … pronounced at once the avoidance of the marriage.
† 3. The action of vacating an office or benefice.
1642. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., 90. After the death, or other avoidance of a Bishop.
4. The becoming void or vacant, vacancy (of an office or benefice); also ellipt. the right to fill up the vacancy.
1462. Paston Lett., 440, II. 90. That I may have the presentacion of the next avoydaunce for a newew of myn.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., III. 64. A learned Vintner and worthie to haue the next auoydance of Bacchus his chaire.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 268. That Patron who should simonically promote any Clerk should not only forfeit that avoidance, but the advowson.
1858. Beveridge, Hist. India, II. V. iv. 347. The avoidance of the office of said governor-general by death.
1879. Maclear, Celts, xi. 170. On each avoidance of the abbacy, to fill up the situation from founder’s kin.
† 5. The action of dismissing a person or bidding him quit; dismissal, removal. Obs.
a. 1631. Donne, Aristeas (1633), 111. The King having made avoydance of those hee esteemed not necessary.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. xi. 232. By the avoidance of this servant divine providence made a way for Elisha.
† 6. The action of quitting; withdrawal, departure, exit. Obs.
a. 1555. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 293. The bishop commanded avoidance.
1613. Hayward, Norm. Kings, 86. By voluntary avoidance out of the Realme.
1635. Swan, Spec. M. (1670), 418. They make present avoidance from their holes.
7. The action of avoiding or shunning anything unwelcome, or of holding aloof from a person.
1610. Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, 343. For avoydance of scandall is Divine law.
1615. Bp. Hall, Contempl., XIX. v. (1796), II. 261. Some things may be yeelded for the … avoidance of others misconstruction.
1684. Baxter, Cath. Commun., 30. Must we let Men Excommunicate one another, and call all to mutual avoidance?
1876. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 2 (1882), 120. There was no public avoidance of the excommunicated King.
