arch. [ad. F. éviter, ad. L. ēvītāre, f. ē- out + vītāre to shun.] trans. To avoid, shun. (In 18–19th c. almost peculiar to Scotch writers.)
1503. Sheph. Kalender, viii. When they would evite and eschue the wonderful blasts of the wind, they plunged into the water.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 132/2. You must also evite all cibaryes which cause heate, alsoe spices.
1635. Quarles, Embl., I. viii. (1718), 33. What we ought t’ evite As our disease, we hug as our delight.
1697. W. Cleland, Poems, 79 (Jam.). We’re obleidge’d in conscience, Evill’s appearance to evite.
a. 1746. Maclaurin, Algebra (ed. 4), 265. In order to know how to evite this absurdity let us suppose [etc.].
1814. Scott, Wav., I. xiv. (ed. 2), 197. Balmawhapple could not, by the code of honour, evite giving satisfaction to both.
1834. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., XXXV. 1005/1. The only position in which we could have evited death.
1889. Stevenson, Master of Ballantrae, xii. 314. Others … were scarce able to support his neighbourhood—Sir William eviting to be near him.
Hence Eviting vbl. sb., the action of the verb EVITE; avoiding, avoidance.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 21. For euiting of such like hainous and abhominable treasons.
1707. Sir W. Hope, New Meth. Fencing (1714), 167. Carrying sometimes your sword-hand low … for the better eviting of your adversary’s parade.
