WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Pre*vent"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.]
Definition : 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.

t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Pre*vent"
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To come before the usual time. [Obs.] Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon.

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913