Prevent
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /pɹɪˈvɛnt/
- Rhymes: -ɛnt
Alternative forms
- prævent archaic
Origin
From Middle English preventen ("anticipate"), from Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveniÅ ("anticipate"), from prae ("before") + veniÅ ("come").
Full definition of prevent
Verb
- (transitive) To stop; to keep (from happening). from 16th c.I brushed my teeth to prevent them from going yellow.
- 2011, October 1, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland, Scotland must now hope Georgia produce a huge upset and beat Argentina by at least eight points in Sunday's final Pool B match to prevent them failing to make the last eight for the first time in World Cup history.
- (intransitive, now rare) To take preventative measures. from 16th c.
- 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:‘I think you must be mad, and she shall not have a glimpse of it while I'm here to prevent!’
- (obsolete, transitive) To come before; to precede. 16th-18th c.
- Bible, 1 Thess. iv. 15We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
- Book of Common PrayerWe pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us.
- PriorThen had I come, preventing Sheba's queen.
- (obsolete, transitive) To outdo, surpass. 16th-17th c.
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.i:With that he put his spurres vnto his steed,
With speare in rest, and toward him did fare,
Like shaft out of a bow preuenting speed. - (obsolete, transitive) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.
- Alexander Popetheir ready guilt preventing thy commands