Etymology Map
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Avoid

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to keep away from

Where does the word "avoid" come from? It comes from Latin viduare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
viduare
Latin · ancient
"to empty, deprive"
from 'viduus', bereft, the root of 'widow'
2
Stage 2 of 3
esvuidier
Old French · medieval
"to empty out"
'es-' plus 'vuidier', to empty, the root of 'void'
3
Stage 3 of 3
avoid
English · 1300s
"to empty; to shun"
shifted from clearing out to keeping away from
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Read the full story

Avoid’s story begins in Latin: viduare meant “to empty, deprive.” From 'viduus', bereft, the root of 'widow'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as esvuidier. 'es-' plus 'vuidier', to empty, the root of 'void'. It reached English by 1300s as avoid. Shifted from clearing out to keeping away from. Today, avoid means to keep away from.