prevent

One entry found for prevent.

Main Entry: pre·vent
Pronunciation: pri-'vent
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, to anticipate, from Latin praeventus, past participle of praevenire to come before, anticipate, forestall, from prae- + venire to come -- more at COME
transitive verb
1 archaic a : to be in readiness for (as an occasion) b : to meet or satisfy in advance c : to act ahead of d : to go or arrive before
2 : to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding
3 : to keep from happening or existing <steps to prevent war>
4 : to hold or keep back : HINDER, STOP -- often used with from
intransitive verb : to interpose an obstacle
- pre·vent·abil·i·ty /-"ven-t&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun
- pre·vent·able also pre·vent·ible /-'ven-t&-b&l/ adjective
- pre·vent·er noun
synonyms PREVENT, ANTICIPATE, FORESTALL mean to deal with beforehand. PREVENT implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable <measures taken to prevent leaks>. ANTICIPATE may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first <anticipated the question by making a statement>. FORESTALL implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course <hoped to forestall the sale>.