English
avoidance
Avoidance comes from Middle English avoidaunce.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500avoidaunce
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1626avoidance
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500avoidaunce
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1626avoidance
Earliest quotation: a. 1626, Francis Bacon, XLV. Of Building: “In the Upper Gallery too I wish that there…”
Formed from avoid + -ance
Vulgar Latin *vocitum ‘empty’
…
Old French vuidier
Old French esvuidier ‘to empty out’
Anglo-Norman avoider
Middle English avoiden
English avoid
Every English word from Middle English avoidaunce
Today it means
noun The act of avoiding or shunning; keeping clear of.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English avoidaunce / avoidance