Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary Powers
Division (I) Individual Volition
Section II. Prospective Volition
1. Conceptional Volition

623. [Absence of Pursuit.] Avoidance.

   NOUN:AVOIDANCE, evasion, elusion; seclusion [See Seclusion. Exclusion].
  avolation [obs.], flight; escape [See Escape]; retreat [See Recession]; recoil [See Recoil]; departure [See Departure]; rejection [See Rejection].
  ABSTENTION, abstinence; forbearance; refraining &c. v.; inaction [See Inaction]; neutrality.
  SHIRKER &c. v.; slacker [colloq.], shirk, quitter [U. S.], eye servant, truant; fugitive, refugee, runaway, runagate, deserter, renegade, backslider; maroon.
   VERB:ABSTAIN, refrain, spare, not attempt; not do [See Inaction]; maintain the even tenor of one’s way.
  ESCHEW, keep from, let alone, have nothing to do with; keep -, stand -, hold- -aloof, – off; take no part in, have no hand in.
  AVOID, shun; steer -, keep- clear of; fight shy of; keep one’s distance, keep at a respectful distance; keep -, getout of the way; evade, elude, turn away from; set one’s face against (oppose) [See Opposition]; deny oneself.
  SHRINK; hang -, hold -, draw- back; recoil [See Recoil]; retire (recede) [See Recession]; flinch, blink, blench, shy, shirk, dodge, parry, make way for, give place to.
  BEAT A RETREAT; turn tail, turn one’s back; take to one’s heels; run, run away, run for one’s life; maroon; cut and run [colloq.]; be off, – like a shot; fly, flee, fly -, flee -, run away – from; take flight, take to flight; desert, elope; make off, scamper off, sneak off, shuffle off, sheer off; break -, burst -, tear oneself -, slip -, slink -, steal- -away, – away from; slip cable, part company, turn on one’s heel; sneak out of, play truant, give one the go-by [slang], give leg bail [slang], take French leave, slope [slang], decamp, flit, bolt, abscond, levant [slang, Eng.], skedaddle [dial. or slang, U. S.], absquatulate [U. S.], cut one’s stick [slang], walk one’s chalks [slang], show the heels, show a clean (or light) pair of heels, make oneself scarce [slang]; escape [See Escape]; go away (depart) [See Departure]; abandon [See Relinquishment]; reject [See Rejection].
  lead one a dance, lead one a pretty dance; throw off the scent, play at hide and seek.
   ADJECTIVE:AVOIDING &c. v.; neutral; unsought, unattempted; shy of (unwilling) [See Unwillingness]; elusive, evasive; fugitive, runaway; shy, wild.
   ADVERB:LEST, in order to avoid.
   INTERJECTION:forbear! keep off! hands off! sauve qui peut! [F.], devil take the hindmost!    QUOTATION:Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.—Paradise Lost