prevent

prevent
prevent [prē vent′, privent′]
vt.
[ME preventen < L praeventus, pp. of praevenire, to anticipate < prae-, before (see PRE-) + venire, to COME]
1. Obs.
a) to act in anticipation of (an event or a fixed time)
b) to anticipate (a need, objection, etc.)
c) to precede
2. to stop or keep (from doing something)
3. to keep from happening; make impossible by prior action; hinder
vi.
to interpose an obstacle
preventable
adj.
preventible
preventer
n.
SYN.- PREVENT implies a stopping or keeping from happening, as by some prior action or by interposing an obstacle or impediment [to prevent disease ]; FORESTALL suggests advance action to stop something in its course and thereby make it ineffective [try to forestall their questions ]; PRECLUDE implies a making impossible by shutting off every possibility of occurrence [locked doors precluded his escape ]; OBVIATE suggests the preventing of some unfavorable outcome by taking necessary anticipatory measures [her frankness obviated objections ]; AVERT suggests a warding off of imminent danger or misfortune [diplomacy can avert war ] –ANT. PERMIT1, ALLOW

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • prevent — 1 Prevent, anticipate, forestall can mean to be or get ahead of or to deal with beforehand, with reference especially to a thing s due time or to its actual occurrence or to the action of another. Prevent implies frustration (as of an intention… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • prevent — When prevent is followed by an object + verbal noun, the usual construction now is (for example) prevent him going or prevent him from going, rather than prevent his going, which (though considered formally more correct by some) is falling out of …   Modern English usage

  • PReVENT — is a European automotive industry activity co funded by the European Commission to contribute to road safety by developing and demonstrating preventive safety applications and technologies. Preventive and active safety applications help drivers… …   Wikipedia

  • Prevent — Pre*vent , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prevented}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Preventing}.] [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.] [1913 Webster] We… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prevent — I verb arrest, avert, avoid, baffle, balk, bar, block, check, checkmate, circumvent, contest, counter, counteract, countercheck, cut off, debar, defeat, deflect, delay, detain, deter, discourage, estop, fend off, foil, forbid, foreclose,… …   Law dictionary

  • prevent — pre‧vent [prɪˈvent] verb [transitive] to stop something happening, or someone doing something: • government regulators working to prevent fraud prevent somebody/​something (from) doing something • The region s huge economic problems will prevent… …   Financial and business terms

  • Prevent — Pre*vent , v. i. To come before the usual time. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prevent — (v.) early 15c., to act in anticipation of, from L. praeventus, pp. of praevenire come before, anticipate, hinder, in L.L. also to prevent, from prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + venire to come (see VENUE (Cf. venue)). Originally literal; sense… …   Etymology dictionary

  • prevent — [v] keep from happening or continuing anticipate, arrest, avert, avoid, baffle, balk, bar, block, check, chill*, cool, cork, counter, counteract, dam, debar, defend against, foil, forbid, forestall, forfend, frustrate, halt, hamper, head off,… …   New thesaurus

  • prevent — ► VERB 1) keep from happening or arising. 2) stop (someone) from doing something. ● prevention is better than cure Cf. ↑prevention is better than cure DERIVATIVES preventable adjective prevention …   English terms dictionary

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