[pre.vent] vb [ME, to anticipate, fr. L praeventus, pp. of praevenire to come before, anticipate, forestall, fr. prae- + venire to come--more at come] vt (15c) 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 ~ war"
4: to hold or keep back: hinder, stop--often used with from ~ vi: to interpose an obstacle -- pre.vent.abil.i.ty n -- pre.vent.able also pre.vent.ible adj -- pre.vent.er n syn 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".