Prevent /(?)/

Pre·vent

Prevent

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing

  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.
  2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [Obs.]
    Their ready guilt preventing thy commands.
  3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart.
    Perhaps forestalling night prevented them.

Prevent

v. i.
  1. To come before the usual time. [Obs.]
    Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early.