Avocation

Avocation
Avocation Av`o*ca"tion, n. [L. avocatio.] 1. A calling away; a diversion. [Obs. or Archaic] [1913 Webster]

Impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin. --South. [1913 Webster]

2. That which calls one away from one's regular employment or vocation. [1913 Webster]

Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

By the secular cares and avocations which accompany marriage the clergy have been furnished with skill in common life. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3. pl. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment; vocation. [1913 Webster]

There are professions, among the men, no more favorable to these studies than the common avocations of women. --Richardson. [1913 Webster]

In a few hours, above thirty thousand men left his standard, and returned to their ordinary avocations. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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

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