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e admiration; splended; shining; as, brilliant talents. Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal mistakes than to perform brilliant exploits. Fisher Ames.

W. D.Howells. -- To take the bull by the horns, to grapple with a difficulty instead of avoiding it.

ng of something aside, secondary, or incidental, or collateral matter, a thing private or avoiding notice; as, by-line, by-place, by-play, by-street. It was formerly more freely used in composition than it is now; as, by-business, by-concernment, by- design, by-interest, etc.

s a word or figure; to mark out by a cross line; to blot out or obliterate. A deed may be avoided by delivering it up to be cancelled; that is, to have lines drawn over it in the form of latticework or cancelli; the phrase is now used figuratively for any manner of obliterating or defacing it. Blackstone.…

careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger; provident care; wariness.

Conveying a caution, or warning to avoid danger; as, cautionary signals.

Attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of acts with a view to avoid danger or misfortune; prudent; circumspect; wary; watchful; as, a cautious general. Cautious feeling for another's pain. Byron. Be swift to hear; but cautious of your tongue. Watts.

The voluntary surrender of a person's effects to his creditors to avoid imprisonment.

To toss up the head frequently, as a horse to avoid the restraint of the bridle.

Liberal in judging of others; disposed to look on the best side, and to avoid harsh judgment.

ne skilled in chronology. That learned noise and dust of the chronologist is wholly to be avoided. Locke. THe most exact chronologers tell us that Christ was born in October, and not in December. John Knox.

l eatate, in which it is customary to privide that errors in description, etc., shall not avoid, but shall be the subject of compensation. Compensation balance, or Compensated balance, a kind of balance wheel for a timepiece. The rim is usually made of two different expansibility under changes of temperature, so arrang…

The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment. Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood. Hallam. Cleared by composition with their creditors. Blackstone.…

applies; an extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted. Wharton. Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them. Mozley & W. Confession of faith, a formulary…

A road that crosses another; an obscure road intersecting or avoiding the main road.

Any ornamental vessel used as a spittoon; hence, to avoid the common term, a spittoon of any sort.

ide; to turn off or away from; to refuse to undertake or comply with; reject; to shun; to avoid; as, to decline an offer; to decline a contest; he declined any participation with them. Could I Decline this dreadful hour Massinger.

r human life, and determine its circumstances and duration. Marked by the Destinies to be avoided. Shak.

Avoidable. [Obs.]

An avoiding or escaping; also, a warning. [Obs.] Bailey.