v.
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
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 from
intransitive verb : to interpose an obstacle
– pre · vent · abil · i · ty \ - ˌ ven-t ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– pre · vent · able also pre · vent · ible \ - ' ven-t ə -b ə 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>.