Bible dictionaries

Avoid

What Bible dictionaries say about “Avoid”, one article after the other.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary & Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Avoid - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

AVOID', v.t. [Eng. side, void, widow; L. vidua, vito, evito. See Void.]

1. To shun; to keep at a distance from; that is, literally, to go or be wide from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.

2. To shift off, or clear off; as, to avoid expense.

3. To quit; to evacuate; to shun by leaving; as, to avoid the house.

4. To escape; as, to avoid danger.

5. To emit or throw out; as, to avoid excretions. For this, void is now generally used.

6. To make void; to annul or vacate.

The grant cannot be avoided without injustice to the grantee.

7. In pleading, to set up some new matter or distinction, which shall avoid, that is, defeat or evade the allegation of the other party. Thus, in a replication, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by starting new matter.

AVOID', v.i. To retire; to withdraw.

David avoided out of his presence. 1 Sam 18. [Improper.]

2. To become void, vacant or empty.

A benefice avoids by common law.

Matthew George Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language (1828)

The article in Easton + Webster 1828

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE 1915)

a-void: Archaic use in 1Sa 18:11 for "escaped." In the Revised Version (British and American) of New Testament only in 2Co 8:20 stellomenoi (with negative), literally, "arranging that not," etc., i. e. by anticipation providing that something should not occur. In the King James Version for "turn away from," ekklinete: Ro 16:17; 1Ti 6:20; "refuse," paraitou, 2Ti 2:23; periistaso, Tit 3:9.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia — James Orr, general editor and contributors; CrossWire SWORD module ISBE 2.2

The article in ISBE 1915