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 definition defines the answer.

'avoiding time dread' is the wordplay.
'avoiding' suggests deleting specific letters.
'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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