avoid

The story

1. Latin · derived fromvacuus
2. Vulgar Latin · derived from*vocitum
3. Vulgar Latin · derived from*vocitāre
4. Old French · derived fromesvuidier“to empty out”
5. Anglo-Norman · derived fromavoider
6. Middle English · inherited fromavoiden
7. English todayavoid

From Middle English avoiden, from Anglo-Norman avoider, Old French esvuidier (“to empty out”), from es- + vuidier, from Vulgar Latin *vocitāre < Vulgar Latin *vocitum, ultimately related to Latin vacuus. Displaced native Old English forbūgan (literally “to bend away from”).

Words from the same roots