Obviate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Obviating.]
Etymology: [L. obviare; ob (see Ob-) + viare to go, fr. via way. See Voyage.]
1. To meet in the way. [Obs.] Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different religion. Fuller.
2. To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to remove from the way or path; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the necessity of going. To lay down everything in its full light, so as to obviate all exceptions. Woodward.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for obviate; he lists it under prevent.
Where he writes about it:
To obviate (literally, to stop the way of or remove from the way), is to prevent by interception, so that something that would naturally withstand or disturb may be kept from doing so; to preclude, (literally, to close or shut in advance) is to prevent by anticipation or by logical necessity; walls and bars precluded the possibility of escape; a supposition is precluded; a necessity or difficulty is obviated. — from prevent
Antonyms
none given