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[ verb ] prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Examples "Let's avoid a confrontation" "head off a confrontation" "avert a strike" Used in print (Frank Oppenheimer, "Science and Fear-- A Discussion...)We have staved_off a war and , since our behavior has involved all these elements , we can only keep adding to our ritual without daring to abandon any part of_it , since we have not the slightest notion which parts are effective . |
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