I.inf., AVOCARIER, C. I. L. I. p. 198), to call off or away.
I. In gen.: “partem exercitūs ad bellum,” Liv. 4, 61, 3: “pubem in arcem praesidio armisque obtinendam,” id. 1, 6, 1: Consul ab omnibus magistratibus et comitiatum et contionem avocare potest. Messala ap. Gell. 13, 16, 1.—With dat. (for ab aliquo): nec avocare alius alii posset, si contionem habere volunt, Messala ap. Gell. 13, 16, 1.— Trop.: “a rebus occultis avocare philosophiam,” Cic. Ac. 1, 4, 15: “ut (orator) a propriis personis et temporibus avocet controversiam,” id. Or. 14, 45: “quibusdam ad Antiochum multitudinis animos avocantibus,” Liv. 37, 9, 1.—
II. Esp.
A. To call one off from an action, purpose, wish, etc., i. e. to withdraw, divert, turn, remove, separate (the usual signif. of the word): “aliquem ab aliquā re voluptas avocat,” Cic. Arch. 6, 12: “si te laus adlicere ad recte faciendum non potest, ne metus quidem a foedissimis factis potest avocare?” id. Phil. 2, 45: “aliquem ab alicujus conjunctione,” id. ib. 2, 10: “quos jam aetas a proeliis avocabat,” id. Rosc. Am. 32, 90: “senectus avocat a rebus gerendis,” id. Sen. 5, 15; so id. Balb. 26, 59: “qui omnino avocent a philosophiā,” id. Fin. 1, 1, 2; id. Leg. 2, 4, 9 hos a bello avocas, Nep. Epam. 5, 3: “avocat a curā vocis ille adfectus,” Quint. 11, 3, 25; Suet. Aug. 40.—
B. To withdraw the attention, to distract, divert.
1. To withdraw by interrupting, to interrupt, hinder: “multum distringebar frigidis negotiis, quae simul et avocant animum et comminuunt,” Plin. Ep. 9, 2, 1.—
2. To divert by cheering, to divert, cheer, amuse: “ab iis quae avocant abductus, et liber et mihi relictus,” Plin. Ep. 9, 36, 2; hence, se, to divert, entertain one's self, Arn. 7, p. 215; and pass. with mid. sense: illic avocare et illic lude, * Vulg. Eccli. 32, 15.—
C. 1.. In the Lat. of the jurists = revocare, to reclaim, recall: “partem ejus, quod in fraudem datum esset,” Dig. 22, 3, 6; so, “possessionem,” ib. 19, 1, 3; also with dat. (for ab aliquo): “non potest avocari ei res,” ib. 35, 2, 1.—
2. Trop.: “factum,” to revoke, disavow, Dig. 39, 5, 6: “arma,” to make a feint in fighting, Quint. 9, 1, 20.