Main Entry: pre·vent

Pronunciation: \pri-ˈvent\

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

Date: 15th century

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 fromintransitive verb : to interpose an obstacle

— pre·vent·abil·i·ty \-ˌven-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— pre·vent·able also pre·vent·ible \-ˈven-tə-bəl\ 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>.