Avoiding time, dread what might follow trial (5)

I believe the answer is:

error

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'what might follow trial' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'avoiding time dread' is the wordplay.
'avoiding' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'dread' becomes 'terror' (synonyms).
'terror' with 't' removed is 'ERROR'.

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(Other definitions for error that I've seen before include "heresy" , "Mistake, lapse" , "Blunder or mistake" , "Boo-boo" , "Mistake or fault" .)

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