PREVENT


Meaning of PREVENT in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ pri-ˈvent ]

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 -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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.