Definitions for: Prevent

[v] prevent from doing something or being in a certain state; "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles"
[v] keep from happening or arising; have the effect of preventing; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"

Webster (1913) Definition: 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.]

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.

Pre*vent", v. i.
To come before the usual time. [Obs.]

Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early.
--Bacon.

Synonyms: forbid, foreclose, forestall, keep, preclude

Antonyms: allow, let, permit

See Also: avert, avoid, baffle, bilk, blank, block, blockade, cross, debar, defend, deflect, embarrass, exclude, fend off, foil, frustrate, halt, head off, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, keep away, keep back, keep out, kibosh, make unnecessary, obstruct, obviate, queer, rain out, restrain, save, scotch, shut, shut out, spoil, stave off, stop, stymie, stymy, suppress, thwart, ward off, wash out

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