PREVENT • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Prevent

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/prɪvˈɛnt/ /privˈɛnt/ Listen

verb

Prevent v. t. (past & past part. prevented; pres. part. preventing)

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." "We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us." "Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen."

To be beforehand with; to anticipate. (Obs.) "Their ready guilt preventing thy commands."

To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." "Perhaps forestalling night prevented them."

Prevent v. i. To come before the usual time. (Obs.) "Strawberries... will prevent and come early."

See images of 'Prevent'

Etymology of 'Prevent'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Prevent" Quotes from Famous Books

... death look what it is not? Why not let it appear what it is, and prevent us from forming false judgments ...

— Miracles of Our Lord • George MacDonald

... this little ridge, which was vaguely marked on the service maps as Mistley's Plateau, named after an adventurous soul, its discoverer. He had been instructed to hold this against all comers, and if possible to prevent communication between the two valleys, connected only by this narrow pass. All this Agar had carried out to the letter; but some one ...

— From One Generation to Another • Henry Seton Merriman

... fact was too soon verified, and, while the captain hastened on deck from the great cabin, where he sat at dinner, Lieutenant de la Fond ordered some sails to be dipped in the sea, and the hatches to be covered with them in order to prevent the access of air, and thus stifle the fire. He had even intended, as a more effectual measure, to let in the water between decks to the depth of a foot, but clouds of smoke issued from the crevices of the hatchways, and the flames gained more and ...

— Thrilling Narratives of Mutiny, Murder and Piracy • Anonymous

... answer an appeal for help?" With that gentle protest still lingering in his ear, he was not inclined to be hard on this unfortunate wretch who was in the cab with him; and yet at the same time he was resolved to prevent any repetition of the scene he had just witnessed. At the last he discovered that the man had picked up in his wanderings a little German. His own German was not first-rate; it was fluent, forcible, and accurate enough, so far as hotels ...

— Sunrise • William Black

... death-face which that Pharisee will make when that trivial woman discloses to him that the young man, who is living in the neighborhood, is Loerincz Aronffy's son, can only be surpassed by my anxiety for you, caused by his knowledge of the fact. For, believe me, he will leave no stone unturned to prevent you, who will remind him of that night when we spoke of great and little things, from being able to strike root in this world. He will even talk ...

— Debts of Honor • Maurus Jokai

More quotes...