different between pastime vs avocation

English

Alternative forms

• passtime, pass-time (both obsolete)

Etymology

From earlier passtime, pass-time, from Middle English passe tyme, passetyme, calque of Middle French passetemps.

Pronunciation

• (UK, General American) IPA^(key): /?pæs.ta?m/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??s.ta?m/

Noun

pastime (plural pastimes)

1. Something which amuses, and serves to make time pass agreeably.

   Synonyms: kill-time; see also Thesaurus:hobby

Translations

Further reading

• pastime in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Verb

pastime (third-person singular simple present pastimes, present participle pastiming, simple past and past participle pastimed)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) to sport; to amuse oneself

Derived terms

• pastimer
• pastiming

Anagrams

• impaste, site map, sitemap

English

Etymology

From Latin ?voc?ti? (“a distraction”), from ?voc? (“I call off, distract”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /av?(?)?ke???n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ævo??ke???n/, /æv??ke???n/
• Hyphenation: av?o?ca?tion

Noun

avocation (countable and uncountable, plural avocations)

1. (obsolete) A calling away; a diversion.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 204:

     But though she could neither sleep nor rest in her bed, yet, having no avocation from it, she was found there by her father at his return from Allworthy's, which was not till past ten o'clock in the morning.

2. A hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit.
   • 1934, Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time

     But yield who will to their separation,

     My object in living is to unite

     My avocation and my vocation

     As my two eyes make one in sight.

   • 18 April, 1986, Ronald Reagan, Proclamation 5462

     Gardening is a wholesome avocation that encourages appreciation for nature and concern for the preservation and enhancement of our environment.

3. That which calls one away from one's regular employment or vocation.
4. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment; vocation.
   • November 1, 1711, William King, Letter to Jonathan Swift

     I have several things on the anvil, and near finished, that perhaps might be useful, if published: but the continual avocation by business, the impositions on me by impertinent visits, and the uneasiness of writing, which grows more intolerable to me every day, I doubt, will prevent my going any farther.

   • I have been received with unsurpassable politeness, delicacy, sweet temper, hospitality, consideration, and with unsurpassable respect for the privacy daily enforced upon me by the nature of my avocation here and the state of my health.

5. The calling of a case from an inferior to a superior court.

Synonyms

• (hobby): See also Thesaurus:hobby

Related terms

• avocational
• avocationally
• vocation

Translations

See also

• volunteerism