FOREFEND
debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off
(verb) prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; “Let’s avoid a confrontation”; “head off a confrontation”; “avert a strike”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Verb
forefend (third-person singular simple present forefends, present participle forefending, simple past and past participle forefended)
Alternative spelling of forfend
Anagrams
• offender, reoffend
Source: Wiktionary
Fore*fend", v. t. Etym: [OE. forfenden; pref. for- + fenden to fend.
See Fend, v. t.]
Definition: To hinder; to fend off; to avert; to prevent the approach of;
to forbid or prohibit. See Forfend.
God forefend it should ever be recorded in our history. Landor.
It would be a far better work . . . to forefend the cruelty. I.
Taylor.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition