From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Forestall \Fore*stall"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Forestalled}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Forestalling}.] [OE. forstallen to stop, to
obstruct; to stop (goods) on the way to the market by buying
them beforehand, from forstal obstruction, AS. forsteal,
foresteall, prop., a placing one's self before another. See
{Fore}, and {Stall}.]
1. To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate.
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What need a man forestall his date of grief,
And run to meet what he would most avoid? --Milton.
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2. To take possession of, in advance of some one or something
else, to the exclusion or detriment of the latter; to get
ahead of; to preoccupy; also, to exclude, hinder, or
prevent, by prior occupation, or by measures taken in
advance.
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An ugly serpent which forestalled their way.
--Fairfax.
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But evermore those damsels did forestall
Their furious encounter. --Spenser.
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To be forestalled ere we come to fall. --Shak.
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Habit is a forestalled and obstinate judge. --Rush.
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3. To deprive; -- with of. [R.]
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All the better; may
This night forestall him of the coming day! --Shak.
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4. (Eng. Law) To obstruct or stop up, as a way; to stop the
passage of on highway; to intercept on the road, as goods
on the way to market.
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{To forestall the market}, to buy or contract for merchandise
or provision on its way to market, with the intention of
selling it again at a higher price; to dissuade persons
from bringing their goods or provisions there; or to
persuade them to enhance the price when there. This was an
offense at law in England until 1844. --Burrill.
Syn: To anticipate; monopolize; engross.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
forestalling
n 1: the act of preventing something by anticipating and
disposing of it effectively [syn: {obviation},
{forestalling}, {preclusion}]
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