English Dictionary: prevent | by the DICT Development Group |
3 results for prevent | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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.] 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. [bd]This vile purpose to prevent.[b8] --Shak. Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. --Milton. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Prevent \Pre*vent"\, v. i. To come before the usual time. [Obs.] Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. --Bacon. |