prevent
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
prevent
- /pɹɪˈvɛnt/ Canada, US, UK
- /pɹəˈvɛnt/
Rhymes with -ɛnt
Where it comes from
From Middle English preventen (“anticipate”), from Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveniō (“to anticipate”), from prae (“before”) + veniō (“to come”).
verb prevents · preventing · prevented · prævent
- To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something). I brush my teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay.
- To take preventative measures. I think you must be mad, and she shall not have a glimpse of it while I'm here to prevent!
- To come before; to precede. We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us.
- To outdo, surpass. 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.
- To be beforehand with; to anticipate. their ready guilt preventing thy commands
