Avocation
- Avocation
- Avocation Av`o*ca"tion, n. [L. avocatio.]
1. A calling away; a diversion. [Obs. or Archaic]
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Impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin.
--South.
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2. That which calls one away from one's regular employment or
vocation.
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Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts
earthly employments avocations. --Fuller.
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By the secular cares and avocations which accompany
marriage the clergy have been furnished with skill
in common life. --Atterbury.
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Note: In this sense the word is applied to the smaller
affairs of life, or occasional calls which summon a
person to leave his ordinary or principal business.
Avocation (in the singular) for vocation is usually
avoided by good writers.
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3. pl. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time;
usual employment; vocation.
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There are professions, among the men, no more
favorable to these studies than the common
avocations of women. --Richardson.
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In a few hours, above thirty thousand men left his
standard, and returned to their ordinary avocations.
--Macaulay.
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An irregularity and instability of purpose, which
makes them choose the wandering avocations of a
shepherd, rather than the more fixed pursuits of
agriculture. --Buckle.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
2000.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
avocation — UK US /ˌævəˈkeɪʃən/ noun [C] ► work you do in addition to your main job or profession, especially for enjoyment: »She s a real estate developer who describes her consultancy business as a part time avocation … Financial and business terms
Avocation — Avocation, Abberufung, Abforderung. – Avocatorium, öffentliche Bekanntmachung, durch welche ein Staat seine Angehörigen aus einem anderen Lande heimruft; sonst bei Kriegen der Fall, in neuerer Zeit öfters wegen politischer Umtriebe, denen die… … Herders Conversations-Lexikon
avocation — index business (occupation), career, employment, job, occupation (vocation), position (business status) … Law dictionary
avocation — (n.) 1520s, a calling away from one s occupation, from L. avocationem (nom. avocatio) a calling away, distraction, diversion, noun of action from pp. stem of avocare, from ab off, away from (see AB (Cf. ab )) + vocare to call (see VOICE (Cf.… … Etymology dictionary
avocation — [n] hobby amusement, diversion, kick*, occupation, pastime, recreation, schtick*, shot*, side interest, sideline, thing*; concept 364 Ant. profession, vocation, work … New thesaurus
avocation — [av΄ə kā′shən] n. [L avocatio, a calling away < pp. of avocare < a (ab ), away + vocare, to call < vox, VOICE] 1. Obs. the fact of being called away or distracted from something 2. something one does in addition to a vocation or regular… … English World dictionary
Avocation — [ thumb|200px|American First Lady Bess Truman with Girls Scouts and their volunteer leaders] An avocation is an activity that a person does as a hobby outside their principal occupation. There are many examples of people whose profession was the… … Wikipedia
avocation — avocational, adj. avocationally, adv. /av euh kay sheuhn/, n. 1. something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, esp. for pleasure; hobby: Our doctor s avocation is painting. 2. a person s regular occupation, calling, or vocation.… … Universalium
avocation — [[t]æ̱voʊke͟ɪʃ(ə)n[/t]] avocations N VAR Your avocation is a job or activity that you do because you are interested in it, rather than to earn your living. [FORMAL] He was a printer by trade and naturalist by avocation … English dictionary
avocation — noun Etymology: Latin avocation , avocatio, from avocare to call away, from ab + vocare to call, from voc , vox voice more at voice Date: circa 1617 1. archaic diversion, distraction 2. customary employment ; vocation … New Collegiate Dictionary