Category:Prevent

Pre*vent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.] Etym: [l. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire To come. See come.]

1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to Direct. [obs.] We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the lord shall not Prevent them which are asleep. 1 thess. iv. 15. We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us. Bk. of Common prayer. Then had i come, preventing sheba's queen. Prior.

2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [obs.] Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope.

3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "this Vile purpose to prevent." Shak. Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton.

Prevent Pre*vent", v. i.

Defn: to come before the usual time. [obs.] Strawberries. . . will prevent and come early. Bacon.