3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Prevent  \Pre*vent"\,  v.  i. 
  To  come  before  the  usual  time.  [Obs.] 
 
  Strawberries  .  .  .  will  prevent  and  come  early. 
  --Bacon. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Prevent  \Pre*vent"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Prevented};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Preventing}.]  [L.  praevenire  praeventum  prae  before 
  +  venire  to  come  See  {Come}.] 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  prevent 
  v  1:  keep  from  happening  of  arising;  have  the  effect  of 
  preventing;  "My  sense  of  tact  forbids  an  honest  answer" 
  [syn:  {forestall},  {foreclose},  {preclude},  {forbid}] 
  2:  prevent  from  doing  something  or  being  in  a  certain  state; 
  "We  must  prevent  the  cancer  from  spreading"  [syn:  {keep}] 
  [ant:  {let}] 

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