Definition of Stave off

1. Verb. Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening. "Avert a strike"


Definition of Stave off

1. Verb. (idiomatic) to prevent something from happening; to obviate or avert ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Stave Off

staurolite
staurolites
staurolitic
stauroscope
stauroscopes
staurosporine
staurotide
staurotides
staus
stave
stave-rhyme
stave-rhymed
stave-rhymes
stave church
stave in
stave off (current term)
stave rhyme
stave wood
staved
staveless
staves
stavesacre
stavesacres
stavewood
stavewoods
staving
stavudine
stavudines
staw
stawed

Literary usage of Stave off

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Anatomy of Melancholy: What it Is, with All the Kinds, Causes, Symptoms by Robert Burton (1862)
"Human, divine laws, precepts, exhortations, fear of God and men, fair, foul means, fame, fortune, shame, disgrace, honour cannot oppose, stave off, ..."

2. The Anatomy of melancholy v. 3 by Robert Burton (1875)
"... fair, foul means, fame, fortune, shame, disgrace, honour cannot oppose, stave off, or withstand the fury of it, omnia vincit amor, &c. ..."

3. The Anatomy of Melancholy: What it Is, with All the Kinds, Causes, Symptoms by Robert Burton (1905)
"... stave off, or withstand the fury of it, omnia vincit amor, &c. No cord nor cable can so forcibly draw, or hold so fast, as love can do with a twined ..."

4. Maryland Historical Magazine by Maryland Historical Society (1915)
"If we can but stave off to another election of representatives, a different set will have their plans. There should be no coercion at this time, ..."

5. The Parliamentary Debates: Official Report by Northern Ireland Parliament. House of Commons (1882)
"... this House in order to stave off this vole. I am sure there are many honorable members before whom this important question »as brought at the hustings. ..."

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