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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1 Thess. iv. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us. Bk. of Common Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. “This vile purpose to prevent.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To come before the usual time. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being preventable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being prevented or hindered; as, preventable diseases. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which prevents; -- incorrectly used instead of preventive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who goes before; one who forestalls or anticipates another. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preventer bolts, or
Preventer plates (Naut.), fixtures connected with preventers to reënforce other rigging. --
Preventer stay. (Naut.) Same as Preventer, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to prevent or hinder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. prévention. ] 1. The act of going, or state of being, before. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The greater the distance, the greater the prevention. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anticipation; esp., anticipation of needs or wishes; hence, precaution; forethought. [ Obs. ] Hammond. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Prejudice; prepossession. [ A Gallicism ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to prevent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. préventif. ] 1. Going before; preceding. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Any previous counsel or preventive understanding. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Tending to defeat or hinder; obviating; preventing the access of; as, a medicine preventive of disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

Physic is either curative or preventive. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preventive service, the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling. [ Eng ] [ 1913 Webster ]