Dictionary
ob•vi•ate
Pronunciation: (ob'vē-āt"), [key]—
v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing.
to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary:
to obviate the risk of serious injury. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.