A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1567-1584, 1638-1700+
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Obviat, v. and p.p. Also: -ate. P.p. also obviated. [e.m.E. obviate (1598), obviat (1654), L. obviāt-, p.p. stem of obviāre.]
1. tr. To anticipate and prevent (a danger, wrong or something unwanted); to meet (an objection). 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 521.
To bring thame to underly the lawis of this realme … and to obviat and resist to this maist wickit interpryise 1584 Ib. III. 664.
[Thinking it meet] to obviat and repres thair fetchis and treasounable pretenssis 1674 Douglas Corr. 274. 1683 Fountainhall Decis. I. 208.
[The processes of writs] are … more fit to purge and obviate fraud or obreption then these … inventions of the doctors 1708 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 166.
Obviatp.p. (a) 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 68.
The noblemen [etc.] … have … legallie obviate the publicatione and ratificatione [of the new service book] 1638 Ib. 111.
If ther be any new proclamatione, it is thoght fitt that it may be obviate and rancountered with a new protestatione 1671 McWard True Nonconform. 12.
Obviat 1696 Proclamation 21 May.
It being necessat that the said abuse should be obviat 1703 Rothesay Par. Rec. 172.
He found him still to insist on some scruples … which the minister judged he had obviate before(b) 1687 S. Ronaldshay 115.
That all differences … may be obviated and prevented
2. To confront, waylay, intercept. 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 134.
Marching another way to obviat Lovat 1666-74 Ib. 337.
One sarjant … having a sword in his hand, obviates the major
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"Obviat v., p.p.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/obviat>
